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.

And again. The history in this chapter precedes 2 Samuel 23 , 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 ; Exodus 5:22 .Jeremiah 4:10 . Ezekiel 14:9 ; Ezekiel 20:25 .Matthew 11:25 ; Matthew 13:11 .Romans 9:18 ; Romans 11:7 , Romans 11:8 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:11 . God's permission, but Satan's suggestion (James 1:13 , James 1:14 ); or, yasath may be taken impersonally, "David was moved".

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 Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.

3.

And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?

God . Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

4.

Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.

5.

And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:

right side : i.e. the south side, facing east.
river of Gad = the river valley belonging to Gad, which was the Jabbok.

6.

Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan, and about to Zidon,

Tahtim-hodshi . Site unknown. If translated = the lower parts of the country where the new moon was worshipped. Like Beth-shemesh = House of the Sun.
Dan-jaan = Dan in the wood, perhaps Laish-Dan (Joshua 19:47 . Judges 18:29 ). = passed round.

7.

And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hibites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beer-sheba.

strong hold. Compare Joshua 19:29 .
went out . Some codices read "came [in]".
south = the Negeb. Some codices read "land". See note on Genesis 13:1 .

8.

So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.


nine mouths , &c. The long time implies a period of great peace.

9.

And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

Israel = 800,000 "valiant men". Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .
Judah = 500,000 "men". Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 . [Compare 1 Chronicles 21:5 , a different classification. Israel = 1,100,000, "all they of Israel that drew sword": i.e. all adults, not necessarily "valiant". Judah = 470,000 "men that drew sword"; not all the "men "by 30,000. ]

10.

And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

I have sinned . Probably conviction of pride or other sinful motive. Hebrew. hatah. App-44 .
take away = cause to pass over. See 2 Samuel 12:13
iniquity . See App-44 .

11.

For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

For = And.
was = rose.
Gad . Compare 1 Samuel 9:9 . Gad last mentioned, 1 Samuel 22:5 . Probably inspired to write this history.

12.

Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.

I offer thee = I impose on thee (Hebrew. natal). A choice out of God's four sore judgments (Ezekiel 14:21 ).

13.

So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.

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.

14.

And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.

mercies = compassions.
great = manifold.
man . Hebrew. 'adatn . App-14 .

15.

So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men.

time appointed . Septuagint and Syriac say the plague lasted only till noon. So this "time" may mean for the evening sacrifice, 3pm (Compare 2 Samuel 24:18 ).

16.

And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.

repented . Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . evil. Hebrew. ra ` a `. App-44 .
Araunah the Jebusite . Perhaps spared in the taking of Jebus. See note on 2 Samuel 5:8 .

17.

And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.

Lo . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
wickedly . Hebrew. `avah. App-44 .

18.

And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.

19.

And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded.

as = according as.

20.

And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.

looked = looked down.
coming on = crossing over.

21.

And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

22.

And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.

burnt sacrifice . See App-43 .

23.

All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.

24.

And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

offer . See App-43 .
the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver . Hebrew. goren (Ruth 3:2 ), mentioned in verses: 2 Samuel 24:16 , 2 Samuel 24:18 , 2 Samuel 16:21 . Not the "place", Hebrew. makom , of 1 Chronicles 21:25 (Ruth 4:10 ), which was afterward the Temple area, about eight acres, and for which David gave the much larger sum of 600 shekels of gold. Two separate purchases effected, the one here was hurried, as an earnest, and the other was made later.
shekels. See App-51 .

25.

And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

there . See note on 1 Chronicles 22:1 .