1 Chronicles 21

In this chapter is related that which is written, 2 Sam.24.

1. Then Satan stood up against Israel, and stirred up, [Oth. Provoked, moved, excited, instigated] David to number the people. [See the further annotate. On this chapter 2 Sam.24.]

2. And David said unto Joab, and to the Rulers of the people, Go your ways, number Israel from Berseba unto Dan [To wit, from the South to the North, from the one end of the Kingdom to the other. So likewise, Judg.20.1. and elsewhere] and bring them to me, that I may know their number.

3. Then said Joab, The LORD add unto his people, as they are (now), an hundred times more: are they not all, O my Lord the King, my Lords servants? Why doth this (thing)? Why should it be trespass to Israel?

4. But the Kings word prevailed against Joab: therefore Joab went out, and passed throughout all Israel: [Joab spent in and about this employment nine months and twenty days, As appeareth 2 Sam.24.8.] After that he returned to Jerusalem.

5. And Joab delivered unto David the sum of the people that were numbered: and all Israel were eleven hundred thousand men [Heb. thousand thousands, and an hundred thousand.]that drew the sword: and Juda four hundred thousand, and threescore and ten thousand, that drew the sword. [see 2 Sam.24.9.]

6. But Levi and Benjamin, he counted not among them: [Heb. in the midst of them] for the Kings word was an abominable unto Joab.

7. And this thing [To wit, that David had caused the people to be numbered] was evil in the yes of God: therefore he smote Israel. [to wit, with the pestilence.]

8. Then said David unto God, I have greatly sinned, (in) that I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, take away the iniquity of thy servant, [that is, mine initiquity: See 2 Sam.12.on v.13.] for I have done very foolishly.

9. Now the LORD spake unto Gad Davids Seer, [That is, Prophet and Teacher, who was with David, whither so ever he went. Of the word Seer, 1 Sam.9.9.] saying:

10. Go and speak unto David, saying; Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; chuse thee one out of them, that I may do (it) to thee.

11. And Gad came to David, and said unto him, thus saith the LORD, chuse thee;

12. Either three years famine, or three months to be consumed before the face of thine adversary, and that the sword of thine enemies may overtake (thee): or three days the sword of the Lord, that is, the pestilence in the land, [The Angel of the LORD smote and slew the Israelites with the pestilence, as with a sword. See below vers.16,27.] and a destroying Angel of the LORD [that is, that shall kill and destroy many of the inhabitants of the land with pestilence] in all the borders of Israel; now then, look, consider, what answer I shall carry back to him, that sent me.

13. Then David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me, I pray thee, fall into the hand of the LORD [That is, I chuse the pestilence, and not war: let meonely fall into the hand of the LORD] for his mercies are very many, but let me fall into the hand of men.

14. The LORD then gave pestilence in Israel: and there fell of Israel threescore and ten thousand men.

15. And God sent an Angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, and when he destroyed the same, the LORD saw it, and it repented him of that evil, [That is ceased to destroy with the pestilence: spoken of God after the manner of men. See Gen.6.6.] and he said unto the destroying Angel, it is enough, withdraw now thine hand: now the Angel of the LORD stood by the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite. [Oth. Called Arauna, and Arania, 2 Sam.24. 16.18. where is also shewed why he is called a Jebusite. See the annotate. There.]

16. When David lift up his eyes, then he saw the Angel of the LORD standing between the earth, and between the heaven, with his drawn sword in his hand, stretched out over Jerusalem: Then David, and the Eldest covered with sacks [that is, with mourning garments. See the annotate. On Gen.chap.37.v.14.] fell (down) upon their faces.

17. And David said unto God, Am not I he that said [That is, commanded] that the people should be numbered? Yea I my self am he that sinned, and dealt very ill, [Heb. doing ill, have done ill] but these sheep what have they done? [it is true indeed that the subjects had not offended in or by numbering the people: yet notwithstanding they were justly punished of God for other sins of their] O LORD my God, let, I pray thine hand be against me, and against me, and against my fathers house, [as if David should say, slay me, and my fathers house, that is, my friends and kindred, with the pestilence] but not against thy people for a plague.

18. Then the Angel of the LORD said unto Gad, that he should tell David, that David should go up, to rear up an Altar unto the LORD, in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

19. So then David went up, according to the Word of Gad, which he had spoken in the Name of the LORD.

20. When ornan turned himself about, then he saw the Angel, and his four sons that were with him, hid themselves; and Ornan threshed wheat.

21. And David came to Ornan, and Ornan looked, and saw David, son he went out of the threshing-floor, and bowed himself down before David, with the face to the ground.

22. And David said unto Ornan, Give me [That is, sell me, as straightway followeth] the place of the threshing-floor, that I may build an altar upon it unto the LORD: give it me for the full money, [as Gen.23.9.] that this plague may cease from the people.

23. Then Ornan said unto David, Take it but away, [Hebr. Take it to thee, or, for thee] and let my Lord the King do that which is good in his eyes: Behold, I give these oxen [to wit, wherewith I even now thresh: for in those times they were wont to cause the oxen to tread out the corn] for burnt-offerings, and these sledges for wood, and the Wheat for meat-offering, I give it all.

24. And King David said unto Ornan, Nay, [As if David had said, I will in no wise receive anything as a free gift, which thou offerest to me] but I will surely buy it [Heb. buying, I will buy it] for the full money: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, [that is, to give unto the LORD] that I should offer a burnt-offering for nothing, (or, without cost.)

25. And David gave unto Ornan for that place, six hundred shekels of gold by weight. [If these were common shekels, then every shekels weighteth two drams, or French Crowns. So that David gave for that place 1200. French Crowns. For the oxen, and the other Furniture, he gave fifty shekels of silver. See further the annotate. Gen.24.on v.22. & 2 Sam.24.on v.24.]

26. Then David built there an altar unto the LORD, and he offered burnt-offerings, and thank-offerings: when he called upon the LORD, then the LORD answered him by fire from heaven, by fire upon the altar of burnt-offering. [God caused fire to fall from heaven upon the burnt-offering, thereby witnessing, that he had heard Davids prayer. Compare herewith that which is recorded, Lev.9.v.24. & 1 Kings 18:38. & 1 Chron.7.1.]

27. And the LORD said unto the Angel, that he should put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.

28. At that time, when David saw, that the LORD answered him on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite then he offered there.

29. For the Tabernacle of the LORD, which Moseh had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt-offering, were at that time on the high place at Gibeon. [See above chap.16.39. and 2 Chron.1.3.]

30. Now David could not go before it [To wit, the altar of burnt-offering: or, the Tabernacle which was at Gibeon] to enquire of God: for he was afraid of the sword of the Angel of the LORD.