seven years , 1 Chronicles 21:12 -three years; also Septuagint. The Hebrew numeral letters for three and seven were probably very much alike. Hence perhaps mistaken by an ancient scribe. Both maybe right = "seven, or even three. " advise = consider, or know. read more
2 Samuel 24:13. Seven years of famine— In 1Ch 21:12 it is three years, which is the reading of the LXX; a reading, says Houbigant, which I prefer in this place, because the three years answer to the three months and the three days. read more
13. Shall seven years of famine come unto thee—that is, in addition to the three that had been already, with the current year included (see on :-). read more
2. David’s confession of his guilt 24:10-14Apparently the census was complete, as complete as Joab took it, before David acknowledged that he had sinned. Finally guilt for his pride penetrated his conscience, and he confessed his sin and asked God for forgiveness (2 Samuel 24:10). This response shows David at his best, as "the man after God’s own heart." God graciously gave the king some choice about how He would punish the nation (2 Samuel 24:13). This may be the only instance in Scripture... read more
The Numbering of the People, and its PenaltyIn punishment for David’s sin in numbering the people, God sends a pestilence, which slays 70,000 men. In gratitude for the stay of the plague, David erects an altar in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.1. Again] This refers to the former occasion mentioned in 2 Samuel 21. He moved] Chronicles states that ’Satan.. provoked David.’ The older account does not enter into the distinction between what God permits and what God causes. This... read more
(13) Seven years.—In Chronicles “three years,” and so the LXX. reads here also. This would be more in accordance with the “three” months and “three” days. read more
Let Me Fall Into the Hands of the Lord 2 Samuel 24:14 I. 'I am in a great strait.' How often we have all of us had to say that! Sometimes by our own sin, as David now; sometimes only by our own misfortune. But to whom did David say it? for that makes all the difference as to whether he said it wisely or foolishly. He asked the question of Gad, God's prophet; but mark you, David's seer, as it says also the man who was the Lord's ambassador to David, and the man who also knew David best. We have... read more
CHAPTER XXXII.THE NUMBERING OF ISRAEL.2 Samuel 24:1-25THOUGH David’s life was now drawing to its close, neither his sins nor his chastisements were yet exhausted. One of his chief offences was committed when he was old and grey-headed. There can be little doubt that what is recorded in this chapter took place toward the close of his life; the word "again" at the beginning indicates that it was later in time than the event which gave rise to the last expression of God’s displeasure to the... read more
4. David’s Failure: the Altar on the Threshing Floor of Araunah CHAPTER 24 1. The numbering of the people (2 Samuel 24:1-9 ) 2. The sin acknowledged and Gad’s message (2 Samuel 24:10-14 ) 3. The pestilence (2 Samuel 24:15-17 ) 4. The altar on the threshing floor of Araunah (2 Samuel 24:18-25 ) The final chapter of the books of Samuel is of much interest and importance. “And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, Go, number... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:1-25
The census and its outcome (24:1-25)Israel’s increasing power and prosperity under David may have given David and his people feelings of self-praise, as if they, and not God, had been the cause of this growth. God saw that the time had come to awaken Israel to this sin. Therefore, God allowed Satan to suggest to David that he take a census of the people. David’s pride in his growing nation was apparently what made the suggestion seem such a good idea, but God was going to use the event to... read more