2 Samuel 24

By a just judgement of God David is stirred up through pride to number the people, v.1.2. Joab and other disswade him from it, but in vain, 3. After that David is sensible of, and acknowledgeth his sin, 10. God by the Prophet Gad propoundeth three judgements to him, to chuse one, 11. At which being greatly distressed, but chuseth the pestilence, which sweepeth away a great number of the people, 14. God commandeth the destroying Angel to cease, wherefore also David, seeing the Angel, humbleth himself and prayeth most devoutly, 16. Gad chargeth David in Gods name, to rear an altar and offer sacrifice on the threshing-floor of Arauna, 18. David buyeth the threshing-floor, and furniture for the offering of Arauna, and offereth there, so the plague ceased, 19.

1. And the Anger of the LORD went on [This seemeth to look at the fore-mentioned three years famine, whereof above chap.21.1. &c.] to kindled against Israel, and be [viz. the Lord] stirred up David against them [to wit, against the Israelites, i.e. for a punishment of the Israelites. Not that he Inspired it unto David, but because in his just judgement, by his secret over-ruling providence, he suffered Satan to do it, and used him as an instrument to punish the Israelites deservedly, and to chastise and humble his servant David, as appeareth by comparison 1 Chron.21.1. where this History is repeated. Oth. among them] saying; [see above chapter 16.on ver.10. and compare 1 Sam.26.19. and 1 Kin.22.22.] go, number Israel and Juda.

2. The King then said unto Joab the commander in Chief, who was with him: go now about thorough all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Berseba [The two uttermost borders of Canaan, Dan in the North & Berseba in the South] and number the people, [thou and thy company, which thou shalt take along with thee, shall number all that are sit for battle, from twenty years old and upward. See Num.1.3. and below v.9. But some conceive that David’s sin consisted chiefly therein, that David also gave command to number those that were under the age of twenty of years and were sit for war: from whence also (according to their opinion) ariseth the difference of the number, mentioned here v.9. and 1 Chron.21.5.] that I may know the number of the people. [hereby David seemeth, that he was led hereunto by meer curiosity and pride, which Joab and other Officers perceiving, laboured to draw and dissuade David from it. Compare 1 Chron.21.3, 6. and 27.23.]

3. Then said Joab unto the King; Now the LORD thy God add unto this people so as those and these now are, [so as every tribe now is] an hundred times more, that the eyes of my Lord the King may behold it: But why hath my Lord the King a desire to this thing?

4. But the Kings word prevail against Joab, and against the commanders of the host: So Joab went out with the commanders of the host, from the face of the King, to number the people Israel.

5. And they passed over the Jordan, and camped themselves by Aroer, on the right hand of the city, which is in the midst of the brook of Gad, [Aroer lay in the tribe of Gad, in the midst between the two brooks of Arnon, whereof the one ran down into the Jordan, the other into the dead sea. See also Deut.2.36.] and at Jaeze. [lying on the brook Arnon, where it runneth from the North to the South.]

6. They came also into Gilead [Extending from the brook Arnon unto the Northern borders of Canaan] and in the low land Hodsi [Heb. the land Tachtin Chodschi; which some translate, the land of them that dwell in the low grounds, lately (inhabited, or gained) to wit, in Sauls time as some conceive. See 1 Chron.5.10. Others apply it to the land of the Ammonites and Moabites, whereof above chap.8.2. and 12.v.29, 30, 31. Some hold it to a proper name of certain country] they came also to Dan-Jaan [this is held to be the city of Dan, the Northern border of Canaan, mentioned v.2. formerly called Luis, and Leschen, Jos.19.47. Judg.18.29.] and round about by Zidon. [see Judg.18.on v.7.]

7. And they came to the strong hold of Tyrus, [See Jos.19.on v.29.] and all the Cities of the Hevites, and of the Cananites: And they went out of the south of Juda at Berseba.

8. Thus they went about thorough all the Land; and they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

9. And Joab gave (up) the sum of the people that were numbred [Heb. of the numbring] unto the King: And in Israel were eight hundred thousand warlike men, [viz. (according to the opinion of some) besides the number of those that were ordinary and known souldiers, which amounted to 288000 with their Officers and Commanders, each Commander having under him 24000 as is related, 1 Chron.27. 1, &c. These being likewise reckoned or cast up among this number, we find there or there about the greater number specified, 1 Chron.21.5. See further on v.2.] that drew the sword, [see Judg.8.on v.10.] and the men of Juda were five hundred thousand men. [the ordinary appointed souldiery of Juda (as some conceive) being also reckoned among them, which are left out, 1 Chron.21.5. (because they were already reckoned among the eleven hundred thousand) and whose Commanders are mentioned above chap.23.8, &c. ‘Tis also worthy of observation, that Joab would not number the tribes of Levi and Benjamin, and perhaps neither the city of Jerusalem. See 1 Chron.21.6. and 2.24.]

10. And David’s heart smote him, [For grief and sorrow, when he thought on his sin commited. See the like phrase 1 Sam.24.6. with the annotate.] after that he had numbred the people: And David said unto the LORD, I have greatly sinned (in) that which I have done, but now O LORD, I beseech thee take away [see above chap.13.on v.13.] the iniquity of thy servant, for I have done very foolishly.

11. Now when David rose up in the morning, then the word of the LORD came unto the Prophet Gad, [See of this man, 1 sam.22.5.1. Chron.29.29.] David Seer, [see 1 Sam.9.9.] saying;

12. Go thy waters, and speak unto David; thus saith the LORD; I offer thee [Or lay upon thee] three things: chuse thee one of them, which I may do to thee. [i.e. I offer or propound three judgements unto thee, that which thou shalt chuse, I will lay upon thee, or send thee.]

13. So Gad came to David, and made him acquainted with it, and said unto him: shall a famine of seven years [The former three years (whereof above ch.21.1.) and the fourth (wherein this happened) being reckoned there with, are the seven years: withal comprehending here under the time, in which the famine ceased; otherwise but three, which number is specified 1 Chron.21.12. Some take seven years for a long time, for which three years are mentioned in the Chronicles. Some conceive that God in dealing with David at first, pronounded seven years, and after that mitigating the same, pro pounded fewer, to wit three] come unto thee in thy land? Or (wilt) thou flee three months before the face of thine Enemies, that they may pursue thee? [Heb. that he (to wit, every one of thine enemies) may pursue thee: Understand withal, & overtaking thee, dealing cruelly with thee. See 1 Chron.21.12.] or that there be three days pestilence in thy land? Now consider and look to (it) what answer I shall carry back to him, that sent me?

14. Then said David unto Gad: I am in a great straint, let us fall I pray into the hands of the LORD, [So that he himself may chastise us without the intervening of men] for his mercies are many, [or great] but let me not fall into the hand of men. [Heb. of a man, to wit, of mine enemies, with whom I have found no mercy at all.]

15. Then the LORD gave a pestilence in Israel, from the morning unto the time appointed: [Which God had specified by the Prophet Gad, to wit, for three days together. Some understand by the appointed time, the time of the Evening-offering of the first day: so that the time of David’s repentance and prayers (whereof mention is made in the sequel) was shortened by God] and there died of the people, from Dan to Berseba, [That is, thorough out the whole land; as v.2.] seventy thousand men.

16. Now when the Angel [Whom God had sent forth for that intent, 1 Chron.21.15.] stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroyed it, [viz. by the pestilence] it repented the LORD [see Gen.6.on v.6.] of that evil, and he said unto the Angel that made the destruction among the people, it is enough, withdraw now thine hand: now the Angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Arauna [called below v.18. Arauja, and 1 Chron.21.22. Ornan] the Jebusite. [but converted to the true religion. Jerusalem was formerly called Jebus, and inhabited by the heathenish Jebusites. See Judg.19.10, 12. and 1.21. and above chap.5.6.]

17. And David when he saw the Angel [For the Angel appeared in the shaped of a man, between heaven and earth, having a drawn sword in sword in his hand, 1 Chron.21.16.] tha smote the people, spake unto the LORD, and said; behold, I, I have sinned, [in numbering the people] and I, I have dealt unjustly, but what have these sheep done? [he meaneth the people, who indeed were innocent as touching this sin of David, but otherwise had justly deserved this punishment] Let thine hand I pray be against me, and against my fathers house. [i.e. my kinsmen that have also advised me, or at least not disswaded me.]

18. And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him; go up [Out of thy strong hold, to the mount called Morija, where Arauna dwelt, where Abraham was commanded to offer up his son, Gen.22.v.14. and afterward the temple was built. See 2 Chron.3.1. and 1 Chron.22. etc.] rear an altar unto the LORD, on the threshing-floor of Arauja [above and below called Arauna] the Jebusite.

19. So David went up according to the word of Gad, according as the LORD had commanded. [By the Angel whom God had charged to inform the Prophet Gad thereof, 1 Chron.21.18.]

20. And Arauna looked and saw the King and his servants coming over to him; so Arauna went out and bowed himself before the King with his face toward the ground.

21. And Arauna said; wherefore cometh my lord the King unto his servant? [i.e. unto me] and David said; to buy of thee this threshing-floor, to build an altar unto 16 48.] from the people.

22. Then said Arauna unto David; Let my Lord the King take and offer (up) that which is good in his eyes, [That which pleaseth him] behold there (be) the oxen [for Aurana was busy with threshing, whereunto oxen were used, that drew about the threshing-cart, or fledge over the corn: see Deut.25.on ver.4.] for burnt-offering and the sledges, and the instruments of the oxen for wood. [to set the offering on fire.]

23. All these things did Arauna the King [Some think that he is called a King, because he himself here so bountiful, as if he had been a King. Others conceive, that he was a King of the Jebusites, before David took the hold of Zion. Others think, that his surname was King] give [as much as concerning him: but David would not accept of it] unto the King: moreover, Arauna said unto the King; The LORD God take delight in thee, [i.e. Manifest, that he doth graciously behold and accept thee, and also thy ways and offerings in the Messiah: whereof a clearer evidence appeared by the fire, which God sent from heaven upon the Altar of burnt-offering, 1 Chron.21.26.]

24. But the King said unto Arauna; Nay, but I will surely buy [Heb. buying buy] it of thee for the price, for I will not offer burnt-offerings unto the LORD my God for nothing: [Which are given me by another for nothing, but of that which is mine own] so David bought the threshing-floor, and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. [This is to be understood of the price of the Oxen, and of the other furniture: for he bought the whole place or parcel of ground for six hundred shekels of gold, 1 Chron.21.25. Some conceive that here is spoken of the bargain of the threshing-floor, and of the Oxen; but 1 Chronicles 21:29. of the bargain of the whole place, or plat of ground, whereon the Temple was built. Of shekels of gold, see Gen.24.on v.22.]

25. And David built there an Altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt-offerings and thank-offerings: So the LORD was entreated fro the Land, [i.e. Reconciled to the inhabitants of the land, by the means of Prayers, made in Faith on the Messiah, and his onely Proprietary sacrifice, whereof these Offerings were a Type and Figure.]