21:3 And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they [be]: but, my lord the king, [are] they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of {c} trespass to Israel?(c) It was a thing indifferent and usual to number the people, but because he did it for ambitious reasons, as though his strength stood in his people, God punished him. read more
21:5 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all [they of] Israel were {d} a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah [was] {e} four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.(d) Joab partly for grief and partly through negligence gathered not the whole sum as it is here declared.(e) In Samuel 30,000 more are mentioned, which was either by joining to them some of the Benjamites who were mixed with Judah, or as the Hebrews... read more
DAVID ’S REIGN THE DOWNFALL OF SAUL (1 Chronicles 10:0 ) In reading this chapter with whose general contents we became familiar in 1 Samuel 31:0 , it is important to note the inspired comment at its close (1 Chronicles 10:13-14 ). DAVID’S HEROES (1 Chronicles 11-12) In the history of David in this book, the writer dwells chiefly on its prosperous side, passing over the rest as lightly as possible. His anointing at Hebron (1 Chronicles 11:1-3 ) reveals nothing of what we learned earlier of... read more
1Ch 21:1-13 1. And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. 2. And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it. 3. And Joab answered, The Lord make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants [In the place of these words we find in 2 Samuel 24:3 , "And that the eyes of my lord the king may see... read more
CONTENTS This chapter represents David in a very different point of view from the former. There we beheld him most lovely in his humbleness before the Lord. In this, in a state of transgression, numbering his people. Here is an account also, of God's visitation and David's punishment. 1 Chronicles 21:1 This memorable - transaction of the numbering of Israel, is recorded both in this place and in the 24th chapter of the 2d Book of Samuel. And the accounts given in both, serve to throw light upon... read more
Numbering the people, if it had been done with an eye of thankfulness to God for the increase of Israel, would have been attended with a blessing, and not a curse. But as it arose out of mistrust, it arose from unbelief and sin. Reader! see what a deadly sin unbelief, and a distrust of divine strength is. read more
Joab seems to have had a serious thought, that the motive in the mind of David was not right. read more
There is a difference in the account here given, from that of 2 Samuel 24:9 . Perhaps Levi and Benjamin might not be numbered in the one as in the other. read more
Satan. This shews that the Lord only (Haydock) permitted David's sin, (2 Kings xxiv.; Worthington) and in this sense only he is said to have instigated him; (Du Hamel) though we read this was done by the fury of the Lord, or by an evil spirit. (Haydock) read more
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Geneva Study Bible - 1 Chronicles 21:2
21:2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from {b} Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know [it].(b) That is, from south to north. read more