2 Samuel 24

2 Samuel 24:1

ANd again] That is, besides the judgement of three yeers famine, wherewith God formerly in his just displeasure had punished the people, he was again by their sins incensed to anger against them.

and he moved] That is, Satan; which is to be supplyed out of 1 Chronicles 21:1. or, David was moved; or God himself (that hereby he might take occasion to punish Davids, and the peoples sins) did give him over to be tempted by Satan, and withheld his grace, whereby he might have been enabled to withstand the tentation; and so David committed this sin of numbring the people, which did arise out of his pride, curiosity and confidence in his own strength; which otherwise in a civill use might have been lawfull, Exodus 30:12. and Numbers 1:2. See Chap. 16. 10. 1 Samuel 26:19. 1 Kings 22:22.

to say] To wit, not inquiring of God, or having his command to warrant him in so weighty a matter, nor upon any just cause, either Ecclesiasticall or civill, but his curiosity, &c. vers. 2.

2 Samuel 24:2

Go] Or, compasse.

Dan] That is, the utmost bounds of Canaan north and south.

the people] That is, from twenty yeers old and upward, Numbers 20:3. or as some take it, all that are able to bear arms, without respect to this age, contrary to the law, Numbers 1:3. which they think may be a cause of the difference between the number here expressed, vers. 9. and 1 Chronicles 21:5. The one speaking of them onely above twenty, and the other of all in generall.

2 Samuel 24:3

delight] Implying, that there was no just cause of this tedious and troublesome work, but onely the kings will and pleasure. Compare this with 1 Chron. 21. 3, 6.

2 Samuel 24:5

Aroer] Situate between the two rivers of Arnon, the one of them running into Jordan, the other into the dead sea. See Joshua 13:16.

river] Or, valley.

Jazer] Situate on the river Arnon.

2 Samuel 24:6

land] Or, netherland newly inhabited.

Tahtim-hodshi] Which reacheth from the river Arnon to the north limits of Canaan.

Dan-jaan] That is, as some think, the city of Dan the north limit of Canaan, named also Lais and Leshem, Joshua 19:47. Judges 18:7.

2 Samuel 24:7

Tyre] See Joshua 19:29.

2 Samuel 24:9

eight hundred thousand] In 1 Chron. 21. 5. there are mentioned eleven hundred thousand. And for reconciling of these two places, some think that Davids ordinary souldiers or trained-bands are not here computed, because their number was already known, and that they are reckoned in that number, expressed 1 Chron. 21. 5. Now the number of these comes to two hundred and eighty thousand, there being in every of the twelve tribes twenty and four thousand, as appeareth 1 Chron. 27. vers. 1. to 15. Over which were set so many colonels or tribunes, centurions, captains, commanders, and chief officers, as made up the number of twelve thousand, which also are mentioned, 1 Chron. 27. 1. which in the whole, amount to eleven hundred thousand.

five hundred thousand] In which are reckoned the ordinary souldiers of Davids army in Judah, which are computed to have been thirty thousand, every thousand having one of those colonels or captains set over them, mentioned Cha. 23. 8. 13. 23. The which are left out in the computation, 1 Chronicles 21:5. and onely four hundred and seventy thousand mentioned, to which, these thirty thousand being added, make up the number of five hundred thousand here expressed. Others think, That according to that number related, 1 Chronicles 21:5. Joab did not in his return reckon the tribes of Benjamin, Levi, and Jerusalem it self, because he was weary of his work, and the kings command abominable unto him, as appeareth 1 Chron. 21. 6. and 27. 24.

2 Samuel 24:10

smote him] That is, his conscience checked him for his sin, after the prophet Gad had convinced him of it, 1 Chro. 21. 9. and vers. 11.

take away] That is, pardon, and put out of thy sight. See Chap. 12. 13.

2 Samuel 24:11

Davids seer] See 1 Samuel 9:9.

2 Samuel 24:13

seven yeers] That is, reckoning in this number the three yeers of famine already past, and this yeer present following, there shall three yeers more be added unto them, which all together make up these seven. See 1 Chron. 21. 12. Some by seven understand many, according to the usuall Hebrew phrase.

thine enemies] To wit, they also overtaking thee in thy flight, and destroying thee. See 1 Chronicles 21:12.

pestilence] Which is called the sword of the LORD, in the hand of his angell, destroying in all their coasts, 1 Chronicles 21:12.

2 Samuel 24:14

into the hand] That is, to be corrected onely, and immediately by himself.

great] Or, many.

of man] That is, an enemy in whom is no mercy, and execute thy judgements with all cruelty. Isaiah 47:6. Zechariah 1:15.

2 Samuel 24:16

the angel] To wit, whom God appointed to destroy, 1 Chron. 21. 15.

stretched out] Being sent of God to that end, and having begun to execute his commission. See 1 Chronicles 21.

Lord repented] See 1 Samuel 15:11.

Araunah] Called also Ornan. See 1 Chronicles 21:16. where this story is inlarged.

the Jebusire] But a proselyte converted to the true religion, descended from those Jebusites who were of old the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Judg. 1. 21. 19. 10.

2 Samuel 24:17

the angel] To wit, in the shape of a man, between heaven and earth, having a drawn sword in his hand, 1 Chron. 21. 16.

what have they] That is, they have had no part in that sin of mine, in numbring the people which is now punished.

fathers house] Who either advised me to it, or did not disswade me from it.

2 Samuel 24:18

and said] To wit, by Gods command and appointment, 1 Chron. 21. 18. and v. 19.

threshing-floor] This was on the mount Moriah, where Abraham was commanded to sacrifice Isaac, upon which the temple was afterward built, 2 Chronicles 3:1. which place was consecrated by this altar, for that use, by making upon it a publike atonement.

2 Samuel 24:22

for wood] Namely, to kindle the sacrifice with fire.

2 Samuel 24:23

as a king] That is, in respect of kingly bounty and magnificence. Some think that he had been king of Jebus before David took it.

accept thee] That is, be made propitious by this thy sacrifice, and remove the present judgement from thee and thy people.

2 Samuel 24:24

for fiftie shekels of silver] That is, the oxen and threshing-instruments for fiftie shekels of silver, and the threshing-floor, with the place on which it stood, for six hundred shekels of gold, as it Isaiah 1 Chron. 21. 25. See the inlargenient of this story, 1 Chron. 21. vers. 18. to 30.