1 Chron. 21 David numbereth the people, 1 Chron. 20:1–6. He repenteth of three judgments propounded, he chooseth the pestilence; and why, 1 Chron. 21:7–13. David, by Gad’s direction, buildeth an altar, and sacrificeth: the plague is stayed, 1 Chron. 21:14–30.

Satan stood up, Heb. stood, to wit, before the Lord and his tribunal to accuse David and Israel, and to beg God’s permission to tempt David to number the people.

Or, why will he be, or why should this be, a trespass, or a cause of trespass, or an occasion of punishment, (for Hebrew words signifying sin are oft used to note the punishment of sin,) or a desolation, or a cause of desolation or destruction, (for the verb whence this noun proceeds is oft used in…

Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them; partly for the following reason, and principally by God’s special and gracious providence to these two tribes; to Levi, because they were devoted to his service; and to Benjamin, because they were the least of all the tribes, having been almost extinct,…

God was displeased with this thing; because this was done without any colour of necessity, and out of mere curiosity, and ostentation, and carnal confidence, as David’s own conscience told him, which therefore smote him, as it is related, 2 Sam. 24:10.

In sackcloth, i.e. in mourning garments, humbling themselves before God for their sins, and deprecating his wrath against the people.

Or, And Ornan turned back, ( i.e. turned his face from the angel,) for, or when, (for the Hebrew vau is frequently used both those ways,) he saw the angel and (so did) his four sons with him hiding themselves; partly because of the glory and majesty in which the angel appeared, which men’s weak and…

From heaven by fire, Heb. by fire sent from heaven; which was the sign of God’s acceptance. See Lev. 9:24, 1 Kings 18:24, 1 Kings 18:38, 2 Chron. 7:1.

When he perceived that his sacrifice there offered was acceptable to God, he proceeded to offer more sacrifices in that place, and did not go to Gibeon, as otherwise he should have done.

David could not, i.e. durst not. Before it, i.e. before the tabernacle, where the altar stood. To inquire of God, Heb. to seek God, i.e. humbly to beg his favour by prayer and sacrifice. Because of the sword of the angel of the Lord, i.e.