2 Samuel 24

Chap. XXIV. ver. 1. — was kindled against Israel.] Probably for the general luxury, pride, and unthoughtfulness, which in a time of peace and plenty overspread the kingdom. Pyle.

— and he moved David against them] Rather, as the Hebrew will admit, “David was moved against them;” namely, by Satan, as is expressly said at 1 Chron. xxi. 1. Bp. Patrick. If our translators had rendered it “David was moved,” they would better have expressed the true meaning. Bp. Kidder.

By comparing this passage with 1 Chron. xxi. 1, it evidently appears, that God’s moving David, or Satan’s provoking him, or his own distrustful heart tempting him, to number the people, are all phrases having one and the same meaning. Dr. S. Clarke.

Nothing is more common with the sacred writers than to represent God as doing that which, in the course of His providence, and for the purposes either of mercy or judgment, He permits to be done by the instrumentality of second causes, animate or inanimate, corporeal or spiritual. Thus the meaning of these different expressions, when put together, is, according to a fair explanation, that God, for good and sufficient reasons known to Himself, permitted Satan to tempt, and David to yield to the temptation, in the present instance. Bp. Horne.

Chap. I. ver. 1. — David was old and stricken in years;] He was now seventy years old, as we collect from 2 Sam. v. 4, 5. Bp. Patrick.

Adonijah usurpeth the kingdom. I. KINGS. Nathan’s advice to Bath-sheba thereupon. Before CHRIST 1015. them soak. a damsel, a virgin. a cherisher unto him. his days. words were with Joab. helped after Adonijah.

2 Samuel 24:2

2. — that I may know the number &c.] David’s prosperity had at this time too much elated him; and, being advised by some rash and imprudent courtiers to take the number of his people, that he might the better know his strength, his vanity got the better of his duty, on which God was pleased to check the rising presumption of his heart, by letting him see how vain his dependence on his forces was, and to punish him and them for their violation of a law, which he had ordered to be observed under the severest penalty. For it had been expressly commanded, Exod. xxx. 12, “When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul,” &c. David, either not thinking of this command, or deeming himself, as king of Israel, exempt from it, ordered the people to be numbered, without exacting the ransom from each of them. This was one of the highest stretches of authority; an assumption of a prerogative which God reserved to Himself, and a violation of a standing law of the kingdom, which was specially ordained as a memorial of God being their supreme Governour and King. It appears that this action of David was looked upon as a

very reprehensible step even by Joab, who remonstrated against it, being apprehensive of the bad consequences which would ensue. Dr. Chandler. The numbering of the people was one of the last and most reprehensible acts of David, about two years before his death. From the expressions used at 2 Sam. xxiv. 1, and 1 Chron. xxi. 1, we may collect, that God permitted Satan to tempt David to the commission of a crime, which would draw down punishment on himself and his people, as He afterwards permitted the same evil and lying spirit to seduce the Prophets of Ahab, 1 Kings xxii. 22, and the disciple of Christ, Luke xxii. 3. The ruling passion by which the tempter assailed David was the pride of life, which, though checked and mortified by the wholesome restraints of adversity, broke out again in the sunshine of prosperity. David’s offence seems chiefly to have consisted in his persisting to require a muster of all his subjects able to bear arms without the Divine command, without necessity, in a time of profound peace, to indulge an idle vanity and presumption, as if he put his trust more in the number of his subjects than in the Divine protection; and the offence of his people may have been similar, always elated, as they were, in prosperity, and provoking the anger of the Lord by their forgetfulness of Him. Dr. Hales. Moses numbered the people by God’s authority, to shew that they were all His subjects: David seems to have numbered them to shew that they were his own people, and to display his own sovereignty; which provoked God. Bp. Wilson.

2. — let her cherish him, &c.] Interpreters are much divided in opinion whether Abishag was the wife of David or not: some maintaining that she was truly his lawful wife; and others, that she was nothing more than a servant, or at most a concubine wife. Calmet.

2 Samuel 24:3

3. And Joab said &c.] Though pride is so imperceptible often to ourselves, it is commonly obvious to others. Even Joab saw it in David: a wicked man discerned it in a saint. Wogan.

2 Samuel 24:5

5. And they passed over Jordan, &c.] The course, which the officers took, was this. Setting out from Jerusalem, they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the river Arnon, or “the river of Gad;” this place is called “in the midst of the river,” probably because it was, in whole or in part, situated on a spot of ground surrounded by the river: they thence went northward to Jazer, to Tahtim-hodshi, or the netherland newly inhabited, a marshy tract on the river Jordan; and to Dan-jaan, the same as Dan, lying at the head of Jordan: from Dan-jaan they went to the cities or countries of Tyre and Zidon, on the northwest of Canaan; thence, turning southward, they came to Beer-sheba, the most southerly city of Canaan, and thence back to Jerusalem. Dr. Wells.

David chooseth the three days’ pestilence. Before CHRIST 1017.

5. Then Adonijah — exalted himself.] This attempt of Adonijah was another trial for David. Providence suffered this to happen, whilst David was yet alive, that Adonijah’s party might be ruined and dispersed, and Solomon established in the kingdom; that so the promises made in favour of Solomon might be accomplished, and that the pride, and ambition, and conspiracy of Adonijah, might only hasten the exaltation of Solomon, and strengthen him in the kingdom. This is one of those examples which prove that God brings down the high looks of the proud, and generally confounds them in their own haughtiness; that nothing can hinder the execution of the designs of Providence; that whatever men do to prevent them, only serves to hasten them; and that criminal attempts turn to the confusion of the authors. Osterwald.

2 Samuel 24:6

6. — his father had not displeased him &c.] It appears from this expression that Adonijah was a great favourite with his father, as Absalom had been before, whom he resembled in ambition and in beauty. Dr. Hales. Extraordinary indulgence to his children seems to have been one of David’s great faults: he appears to have been so fond of them that he overlooked their errors, and never chided them for what they did amiss: now in his old age this weakness was more apparent, as he naturally grew more remiss, careless, and sluggish. Bp. Patrick. Adonijah, as well as Absalom, had been the darling of his father. Their father had not displeased them from their childhood; therefore they both displeased him in his age. The excessive indulgence of parents at last pays them home in crosses. Bp. Hall. David had nobody to blame but himself for this mis-

2 Samuel 24:9

9.—in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men &c.] On comparing this account with 1 Chron. xxi. 5, we find an important difference; for there the men of Israel are said to be 300,000 more than they are here, and the men of Judah 30,000 less. As to the former difference, we may account for it by supposing, that, in the sum given in this book of Samuel, the standing legions (which amounted in all to 258,000 men) are not included, though they are in Chronicles: and, as to the latter difference, we may add 24,000 legionary soldiers to the tribe of Judah, and the difficulty is removed; unless in this latter case it be deemed sufficient to say, that the computation is made in very round numbers, without strict attention to accuracy. Bp. Patrick.

9. — which is by En-rogel.] En-rogel lay not far from Jerusalem, to the east or northeast of it. Dr. Wells. Josephus says, that En-rogel means “the fountain in the king’s garden.” Dr. Hales.

2 Samuel 24:10

10.—David’s heart smote him] He was now sensible that he had numbered the people out of fleshly vanity and pride, and as one who relied on his own strength and the number of his forces for the support of his kingdom, rather than on God, who can save by few as well as by many. Dr. Wells. Here needed no Nathan to bring David to a sight and knowledge of his sin. The heart of the penitent supplied the place of the Prophet. No other tongue could smite so deep as his own thoughts. Bp. Hall.

—I have sinned greatly in that I have done:] This last offence of David is still more astonishing and alarming than the first. This was an offence committed immediately against God. It is almost inconceivable, and altogether frightful, to consider, how “the light of Israel,” an inspired Prophet the most highly gifted, favoured with such abundance of revelations concerning the Messiah, and His future dispensation of grace to mankind, could be so exalted above measure by the inborn pride and naughtiness of his heart, (1 Sam. xvii. 28,) as to forget, not merely for a moment, but for nine months and twenty days, (the time employed in making the return,) the Lord his strength and his redeemer, unmoved by the representations and remonstrances of his most faithful friends, who forewarned him of the Divine displeasure. Most strongly indeed does his fall on this occasion urge the necessity of vigilance and prayer, to correct the deceitfulness of the human heart, and to counteract the subtlety of the devil working against us; while his rising again furnishes an abundant source of consolation to all return-

ing penitents, never to despair of the riches of Divine mercy, from a sense of their own unworthiness and manifold demerits. Dr. Hales.

2 Samuel 24:11

11. Wherefore Nathan spake &c.] The word “wherefore” is not in the Hebrew; where the words are, “And Nathan spake.” The insertion of the word “wherefore” in our translation has sometimes given birth to a very unfounded insinuation against Nathan, as if a feeling of resentment for the neglect shewn to him by Adonijah, as mentioned in the preceding verse, was the cause of his discovering the plot to David; whereas there can be no doubt that Zadok and Nathan were actuated by loyalty and affection to the king, and by the desire of having the succession to the crown settled by his appointment and authority. Dr. Chandler.

Nathan was the man by whom God had sent to David that message of assurance, that his son Solomon should reign and prosper: yet now, when Adonijah’s plot was on foot, he did not sit still and depend upon the issue of God’s decree, but bestirred himself in the business, and consulted with Bath-sheba how at once to save their lives, and defeat Adonijah and advance Solomon. If we would not have God wanting to us, we must not be wanting to ourselves. Bp. Hall.

2 Samuel 24:12

12. — and the life of thy son Solomon.] For, if Adonijah had succeeded in his treason, Solomon, as being the rival of his throne, would have fallen an immediate sacrifice. Dr. Chandler.

2 Samuel 24:13

13.—Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land?] There is a difference between the account given here, and that in the book of Chronicles, where the famine is said to be for three years, not for seven, 1 Chron. xxi. 12. Some have imagined that seven is in this place an error which has crept into the text. But the difference may be explained in another manner; by supposing that the author of Chronicles speaks of those years of famine, which were to come for David’s sin only, while the author of the book of Samuel speaks also of those years which were sent for Saul’s sin, 2 Sam. xxi. David’s sin in numbering the people took place within one year after the famine sent for Saul’s sin; the intermediate year was perhaps the sabbatical year, in which the people neither sowed nor reaped, or a year of such excessive drought that the crops came to nothing. Upon either of these accounts, it might properly enough be said that there would be seven years of famine, three being added to four which had preceded. Stackhouse. According to this explanation, the Prophet’s words may be the same as “Wilt thou have three additional years of famine!” which removes all apparent contradiction. Bp. Horne.

There is not another instance recorded in Scripture of any man’s being left to the choice of his own punishment. “The man after God’s own heart” is the only one to whom this singular favour is shewn: and the Divine condescension towards him was not lost or abused. David, in the choice which he made, directed himself probably to that which he thought would, under the hand of a just God, fall with less severity on His people, and with heavier on himself, as the principal and sole offender. How humble, how generous and benevolent a choice was this; and, therefore, how pious and wise! It disarmed the destroying angel, brought the Lord Himself “to repent” and to stay His hand. When we meekly submit ourselves to the Divine correction, not only mercy, but justice itself, will say, “It is enough.” Wogan.

13. — Didst not thou — swear unto thine handmaid, &c.] We read no where else of this oath; but, no doubt,

Before CHRIST 1015. Or, the well Rogel. a 2 Sam. 3. 4.

2 Samuel 24:14

14.—let us fall now into the hand of the Lord:] Of the three punishments offered, David chose the plague, probably from recollecting that this was the very punish-

Before CHRIST 1017. Jerusalem is saved. Araunah’s generous offer.

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.

a 1 Sam. 15.

2 Samuel 24:15

15. — to the time appointed.] Not to the end of the three days; for, ver. 16, “the Lord repented Him of the evil:” it means, probably, the appointed time of evening prayer, that is, about the ninth hour of the day; according to which sense the plague lasted nine hours. Bp. Patrick.

— there died—seventy thousand men.] If it should be thought strange that God should destroy 70,000 men of Israel for David’s fault, it should be recollected that God has an absolute right over the lives of all his creatures; and that, if ever He does any thing seemingly hard, He knows how to make them ample amends. But “the anger of the Lord was (also) kindled against Israel,” ver. 1; the people themselves had sins many and great, which deserved punishment, and for which they would probably have been before punished, had it not been for God’s favour towards David, who would have suffered in common with them: now, therefore, when both king and people had deserved a correction or judgment, God was pleased to let loose His anger against both. Dr. Waterland.

2 Samuel 24:16

16. — the Lord repented him] God did not change His mind, but only revoked that which He had decreed on a certain condition: which was, that three days’ pestilence should come upon the country, unless David and his people repented. Bp. Patrick.

— the angel—was by the threshing-place] That is, the pestilence had spread in Jerusalem to this point. It is agreed by the learned, that this threshing-floor was situated upon mount Moriah, whereon Abraham was commanded to sacrifice Isaac, and whereon Solomon afterwards built the temple. Dr. Wells.

— of Araunah the Jebusite.] As Araunah is called a Jebusite, it thus appears that all the Jebusites were not at this time expelled from Jerusalem. Dr. Wall.

2 Samuel 24:17

17. — but these sheep.] A noble example of the tenderness which kings should have for their subjects. Bp. Wilson. How sensibly was David affected with his people’s sufferings under that pestilence, which his imprudence and their neglect had brought upon them! How tenderly and affectionately does he plead with God in their behalf! What a noble instance of publick spirit, and generous concern for the safety of his people, does this moving and pathetick expostulation manifest! Here is the real language and spirit of a genuine shepherd of his people, willing to devote himself and his family to God, for the preservation of his subjects. Dr. Chandler. Although David, like a true patriot king and most affectionate father, intercedes for his people, and desires to receive in his own person and family the stroke that was ready to descend on them, yet it should seem that the people were by no means without fault; for (as was noted at ver. 1.) “the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel:” and, as a consequence of this, David was excited to number the people. The offences of the people called for punishment; and, on the numbering the people, an opportunity was taken to inflict it. Bp. Horne.

2 Samuel 24:23

23. — did Araunah, as a king, give] As a king; that is, in a bountiful and royal manner. Bp. Hall.

2 Samuel 24:24

24. — bought — for fifty shekels of silver.] Here again this book differs from that of Chronicles, I Chron. xxi. 25, where it is said, that David bought the threshing-

The plague is stayed. Before CHRIST 1017.