1 Chronicles 21

1 Chronicles 21:1

E. The Census and the Plague (Chap. 21)When this chapter is compared with 2 Samuel 24, it is not at first clear who was behind David’s sin of numbering the people. Second Samuel says that the Lord moved David to number Israel because His anger was kindled against the nation. Here we are told that Satan incited the action. Both statements are, of course, true. God allowed Satan to tempt David. God is not the author of evil, but He permits it and causes it to serve His appointed ends. For the differences between the figures given in this chapter and those given in 2 Samuel 24, see Endnotes. 21:1-7 Joab was against the census from the start and was not very diligent in carrying out the king’s orders. Levi was not included perhaps because the tribe was dispersed throughout Israel and Judah, and to number the people would have been difficult. Benjamin may have been omitted because the census was interrupted before reaching that tribe (1Ch_27:24). In numbering the people no ransom was collected, as commanded in Exo_30:12. David’s disobedience and pride brought grave consequences. 21:8-15 Although David . . . sinned greatly, he was quick to confess and humble himself before the Lord. When given a choice as to the penalty of his wrongdoing, he chose to fall into the hand of the LORD because he knew that He is merciful. Seventy thousand men were slain before the pestilence was stopped. To us the punishment may seem severe. All of us have weaknesses and besetting sins. David was generally humble, but in this instance he fell into the ancient sin of the devil, pride. Matthew Henry makes application for all of us: He was proud of the multitude of his people, but divine Justice took a course to make them fewer. Justly is that taken from us, weakened, or embittered to us, which we are proud of. 21:16, 17 When David raised his eyes he saw a terrifying sight: the angel of the LORD with drawn sword stretched out over his beloved Jerusalem. His response was much better than most believers show when caught in some major sin or disobedience. Henry’s four-point summary on how David bore his correction may prove helpful to us all, especially those in a place of leadership.

1. He made a very penitent confession of his sin, and prayed earnestly for the pardon of it, v. 8. Now he owned that he had sinned, had sinned greatly, had done foolishly, very foolishly; and he entreated that, however he might be corrected for it, the iniquity of it might be done away.
2. He accepted the punishment of his iniquity: “Let thy hand be on me, and on my father’s house, v. 17. I submit to the rod, only let me be the sufferer, for I am the sinner; mine is the guilty head at which the sword should be pointed.”
3. He cast himself upon the mercy of God (though he knew he was angry with him) and did not entertain any hard thoughts of him. However it be, Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are great, v. 13. Good men, even when God frowns upon them, think well of him. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.
4. He expressed a very tender concern for the people, and it went to his heart to see them plagued for his transgression: These sheep, what have they done?21:18-26 Through Gad, the Lord directed David to acquire the threshing floor of Ornan (Araunah in 2 Sam.), a Jebusite, and to build an altar there and offer sacrifices. Ornan offered the land to David as a gift, but the king insisted on paying for it. Verse 24 is an important spiritual principle: Effective sacrifice is always costly. This threshing floor later became the site of the temple (2Ch_3:1). 21:27-30 It was on Moriah that Abraham offered up Isaac (Gen. 22). Here the plague was stopped, and when the LORD commanded the angel, he returned his sword to its sheath, as we read in this chapter. Here the temple stood. And we believe that it was on this same ridge, although not on the same spot, that the Lord Jesus died on the cross for the sins of mankind. The realization that the site of the threshing floor was to be the new center of worship may account for David’s fear to go to Gibeon for guidance.