2 Samuel 24:1, 2 Samuel 24:1-16 WEB

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 24:1-25

The reason for God's anger burning against Israel (v.1) is not told us: if there is no public occasion for it, then it must be due to the moral and spiritual condition of the nation. Very likely that condition was represented in the pride that led David to desire to have Israel numbered. The nation had grown from a small people of no significance in the world's eyes into a strong empire. Had this humbled the people in thankfulness for the grace of God in so blessing them? Apparently not. We... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:1-25

MINGLED EXPERIENCES THE GRATEFUL RETROSPECT (2 Samuel 22:0 ) The title of this section is that which Spurgeon gives the psalm which constitutes it. The psalm is numbered 18 in the book of Psalms, and will be found to contain variations in the text. A common explanation of these is that David sung it, or caused it to be sung, often, and hence revised it for final use in the tabernacle. The second and forty-ninth verses of the psalm are quoted in the New Testament as the words of Jesus Christ... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 2 Samuel 24:1-25

The Census and the Pestilence 2 Samuel 24:0 THE chapter opens: "And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah." In another part of the record it is said that "Satan" tempted David to number the people ( 1Ch 21:1 ). In this chapter it is explicitly said that the Lord "moved David," saying, "Go, number Israel and Judah." Can there be evil in the city and the Lord not have done it? How many Lords are there? In... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:1

CONTENTS We have, in this chapter, a part of David's history, the date of which is not certain. He is here in a state of trespassing against the Lord, by numbering the people. The prophet Gad is sent to reprove him, and to propose to his choice one of three plagues with which the Lord would chastise him. We have also the relation of the chastisement, and David's repentance. read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:1-2

(1) ¶ And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. (2) For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Daniel even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people. It is more than probable that David's sin, on this occasion, was, that he was looking for strength from numbers more than from the LORD. And Satan... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:1

Stirred up, &c. This stirring up, was not the doing of God, but of satan; as it is expressly declared, 1 Chronicles xxi. 1. (Challoner) --- David was moved by vanity, &c., thus to displease God. --- Among. Hebrew, "against;" as the king could have done nothing more prejudicial to his people, 70,000 of whom perished on this occasion, ver. 15. (Haydock) --- We might also translate, "The anger of the Lord continued against Israel: for David, for their misfortune, was moved to say, Go,"... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 24:1-9

1-9 For the people's sin David was left to act wrong, and in his chastisement they received punishment. This example throws light upon God's government of the world, and furnishes a useful lesson. The pride of David's heart, was his sin in numbering of the people. He thought thereby to appear the more formidable, trusting in an arm of flesh more than he should have done, and though he had written so much of trusting in God only. God judges not of sin as we do. What appears to us harmless, or,... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - 2 Samuel 24:1-9

The People Numbered v. 1. And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, as in the former famine, 2 Samuel 21:1-2 Chronicles :, and He moved David against them, namely, the members of the nation, by giving Satan leeway to tempt David, to say, Go, number Israel and Judah, by taking a census chiefly for military purposes. v. 2. For the king said to Joab, the captain of the host, which was with him, having held his post as commander-in-chief of the army, Go now through all the... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - 2 Samuel 24:1-25

SIXTH SECTIONThe Numbering of the People and the Plague2 Samuel 24:1-251And again the anger of the Lord [Jehovah] was kindled against Israel, and he moved [incited] David against them to say [saying], Go, number Israel and Judah. 2For [And] the king said to Joab the captain [Joab and the captains1] of the host which was [were] with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even [om. even] to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people. 3And Joab... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:1-14

a Proud Heart Humbled 2 Samuel 24:1-14 The sin of numbering the people lay in its motive. David was animated by a spirit of pride and vainglory. He was eager to make a fine showing among the surrounding nations, and to impress them with such a conception of Israel’s greatness that they would not dare to attack any point of the long frontier line. He yielded to the temptation of trusting in chariots and horses, instead of in the victories of faith. When the enumeration was nearly complete,... read more