2 Samuel 24:1 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:1-9

Here we have, I. The orders which David gave to Joab to number the people of Israel and Judah, 2 Sam. 24:1, 2. Two things here seem strange:?1. The sinfulness of this. What harm was there in it? Did not Moses twice number the people without any crime? Does not political arithmetic come in among the other policies of a prince? Should not the shepherd know the number of his sheep? Does not the Son of David know all his own by name? Might not he make good use of this calculation? What evil has he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:1

And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel ,.... It had been kindled, and appeared before in sending a three years' famine among them for Saul's ill usage of the Gibeonites, 2 Samuel 21:1 ; and now it broke forth again, either for some secret sins committed, as Kimchi suggests, or for the rebellion of Absalom, and the insurrection of Sheba, in which multitudes of them joined; so Abarbinel; no doubt there was cause for it, though it is not expressed: and he moved David... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 24:1

He moved David against them - God could not be angry with David for numbering the people if he moved him to do it; but in the parallel place ( 1 Chronicles 21:1 ;) it is expressly said, Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. David, in all probability, slackening in his piety and confidence toward God, and meditating some extension of his dominions without the Divine counsel or command, was naturally curious to know whether the number of fighting men in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:1

EXPOSITION And again the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel. It is probable that this chapter once stood in intimate connection with 2 Samuel 21:1-22 ; and that the famine therein described was followed by a pestilence, of which the blame largely rested upon David, though the sin punished by it was fully shared by the people. In saying that David was moved of Jehovah to number Israel and Judah, the writer acknowledges the great truth that all action, both good and evil, is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:1-2

( 1 Chronicles 21:1 , 1 Chronicles 21:2 ).—( JERUSALEM .) A sinful census. 1 . This census appears to have been ordered by David in one of the later years of his life. The word "again" ( 2 Samuel 24:1 ) indicates that it was subsequent to the famine ( 2 Samuel 21:1 , 2 Samuel 21:14 ; verse 25); and a measure that occupied Joab and the captains of the host nine months and twenty days could only have been accomplished during a time of settled peace, such as succeeded the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:1-9

The facts are: 1 . On account of some transgressions, God, being angry with Israel, permits some one to incite David to number the people. 2 . David, on issuing his commands to Joab, is met with a remonstrance from him and the captains of the host. 3 . But the king persisting in his desire, Joab and his officers and men apply themselves to the work, and at the end of nine months and twenty days return the number of men capable of serving in war at 1,300,000. The difficulties... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 24:1

And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel - This sentence is the heading of the whole chapter, which goes on to describe the sin which kindled this anger, namely, the numbering of the people 1 Chronicles 21:7-8; 1 Chronicles 27:24. There is no note of time, except that the word “again” shows that these events happened “after” those of 2 Samuel 21:0. (Compare also 2Sa 24:25; 2 Samuel 21:14.)And he moved David - In 1 Chronicles 21:1 the statement is, “and an adversary” (not... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 24:1

2 Samuel 24:1. And again After the former tokens of his anger, such as the three years’ famine, mentioned chap. 21. The anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel For their sins, and on account of the following action of David. The anger of the Lord, it must be well observed, was not the cause of David’s sin, nor of the sins of the people; for God cannot be the author of sin; but David’s sin and the sins of Israel were the cause of God’s anger. And he moved David against them The... read more

Donald C. Fleming

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Samuel 24:1

And again. The history in this chapter precedes 2 Samuel 23:0 , by Figure of speech Hysterologia ( App-6 ). See note on 23. i. the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . He moved-He suffered him to be moved. By He-brew idiom (and also by modern usage) a person is said to do that which he permits to be done. Here we have the historical fact. In 1 Chronicles 21:1 we have the real fact from the Divine standpoint. Here the exoteric, in 1 Chronicles 21:1 the esoteric. For examples, see Exodus 4:21 ;... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:1-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 24:1

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:1

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:1-9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 24:1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 24:1

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:1-25

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Samuel 24:1

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