1 Chronicles 21:1 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 21:1-6

Numbering the people, one would think, was no bad thing. Why should not the shepherd know the number of his flock? But God sees not as man sees. It is plain it was wrong in David to do it, and a great provocation to God, because he did it in the pride of his heart; and there is no sin that has in it more of contradiction and therefore more of offence to God than pride. The sin was David?s; he alone must bear the blame of it. But here we are told, I. How active the tempter was in it (1 Chron.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 21:1-27

See Chapter Introduction read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 21:1

And Satan stood up against Israel - See the notes on the parallel place, 2 Samuel 24:1 ; (note), etc. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 21:1

EXPOSITION This very important chapter in David's history is the parallel of 2 Samuel 24:1-25 , which contains some details not found here, e.g. the route taken by those who went to number Israel ( 2 Samuel 24:5-8 ), and omits others. This chapter furnishes one of the clearer proofs (in respect of what it supplies, not found in Samuel) that its indebtedness is not to that book, but to a work open as well to the compiler of Chronicles as to the writer of Samuel. Its contents... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Chronicles 21:1

As the books of Scripture are arranged in our Version, Satan is here for the first time by name introduced to us. He appears not merely as an “adversary” who seeks to injure man from without, but as a Tempter able to ruin him by suggesting sinful acts and thoughts from within. In this point of view, the revelation made of him here is the most advanced that we find in the Old Testament.The difficulty in reconciling the statement here, “Satan provoked David,” etc. with that of Samuel, “the Lord... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Chronicles 21:1

1 Chronicles 21:1. Satan stood up against Israel Before the Lord and his tribunal, to accuse David and Israel, and to ask God’s permission to tempt David. Standing is the accuser’s posture before men’s tribunals; and consequently the Holy Scriptures (which use to speak of the things of God after the manner of men, to bring them down to our capacities) elsewhere represent Satan in this posture. See 1 Kings 22:21; Zechariah 3:1. In 2 Samuel 24:1, it is said, The anger of the Lord was... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 21:1-30

David’s fame (18:1-22:1)Before speaking further of the temple, the writer lists a number of David’s victories in war. These records show how God was strengthening David’s kingdom according to his promise, but they show also why God would not allow David to build the temple. One who had caused so much bloodshed was not a suitable person to build the nation’s sacred place of worship (see 22:7-10).The writer records victories over miscellaneous enemies (18:1-17; see notes on 2 Samuel 8:1-18);... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Chronicles 21:1

Satan. See note on 2 Samuel 24:1 . trespass = guilt. See Exodus 30:11-16 . The Tabernacle was erected with the ransom paid for 600,000. The site of the Temple obtained at the cost of 70,000 souls. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 21:1

DAVID'S NUMBERING THE PEOPLE; THE PESTILENCE; AND PURCHASE OF THE SITE FOR THE TEMPLE;DAVID'S SIN IN NUMBERING THE PEOPLE"And Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. And David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring me word that I may know the sum of them. And Joab said, Jehovah make his people a hundred times as many as they are: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why doth my lord... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Chronicles 21:1

1 Chronicles 21:1. Satan stood up— An adversary stood up. Le Clerc. See the note on 2 Samuel 24:1; 2 Samuel 24:25. Bishop Warburton observes (perhaps the reader will think with rather too much refinement) upon this passage as follows: "This evil Being [Satan] was little known to the Jewish people till about this time: their great lawgiver, where he so frequently enumerates and warns them of the snares and temptations which would draw them to transgress the law of God, never once mentions this... read more