2 Sam. 24 David, tempted by Satan, forceth Joab to number the people; who are thirteen hundred thousand fighting men, 2 Sam. 24:1–9. David acknowledgeth his sin in it: having three judgments propounded by God, he is in great distress, and chooseth the pestilence; of which seventy thousand men die,…

Again, to wit, after the former tokens of his anger, such as the three years’ famine, 2 Sam. 21:0. He moved David he: who? Either, 1. Satan, as is expressed, 1 Chron. 21:1. Or, 2. God; who is said, in like manner, to stir up Saul against David, 1 Sam.

Which expression points at David’s sin in this matter, that he numbered them, not by direction from God, nor for any important business of the church or kingdom; but out of mere curiosity, and pride, and vain-glory; accompanied either with a secret distrust of God’s promise; or rather, with a…

What reason or necessity is there for this action? It is to no purpose, and will be burdensome to thy people, and may offend God, and produce ill effects.

Joab perceiving the king bent upon it, would not hazard the king’s favour by further disputing or disobeying his command.

They passed over Jordan; they began their computation in the eastern part of David’s dominions, which were beyond Jordan. Pitched, or encamped. For Joab carried with them divers of his commanders, and others; partly, for his honour, and, the credit of the work; partly, to assist him in that…

To Gilead; to Mount Gilead, which lay northward from Arnon. Tahtim-hodshi; a place so called. Or, the lowland lately gained, i. e. not given by Joshua, but taken lately from the Hagarites by Saul; which was near Gilead, 1 Chron. 5:10. Dan-jaan, i.e.

Eight hundred thousand. Object. In 1 Chron. 21:5, they are numbered 1, 100, 000. Answ. The sum here expressed is only of such as were not in the ordinary and settled militia waiting upon the king, which being 24, 000 for every month, as is largely related, 1 Chron.

David’s heart smote him; his conscience discerned his sin, and he was heartily sorry for it. And the occasion of his repentance was God’s message by the prophet Gad, as it here follows, 2 Sam. 24:11, For when, &c. as formerly God’s message by Nathan had the same effect, 2 Sam.

David’s seer; so called, because he was a prophet, (for such were called seers, 1 Sam. 9:9) now and at other times employed by God to reveal his mind and will to David. See 1 Sam. 22:5, 1 Chron. 29:29.

Seven years of famine. Object. In 1 Chron. 21:12, it is only three years of famine. Answ. 1. Some conceive that here was an error in the transcriber, and that the true reading is three years, as the LXX.

Into the hand of the Lord, to wit, his immediate stroke, which is chiefly in the pestilence; for though the sword and famine be also God’s hand, yet there is also the hand of man or other creatures in them.

To the time appointed; either, 1. From morning to evening, which is here called the time appointed; or, the time of the convention, or, public meeting, as this Hebrew word oft signifies, i. e. till the time of the evening prayer and sacrifice, when the people used more solemnly to meet together.

The angel appeared in the shape of a man with a sword in his hand, 1 Chron. 21:16, to convince them more fully that this was no natural nor common plague, but inflicted immediately by the hand of God. Upon Jerusalem; which he had begun to smite, and was proceeding to make a far greater slaughter.

Let thine hand be against me; wherein David shows his justice, and piety, and fatherly care of his people, and that he was a type of Christ. Against my father’s house; against my nearest relations, who probably either put David upon, or encouraged him in, this action, because they were no less…

Gad came that day to David, by command from God, 2 Sam. 24:19, 1 Chron. 21:18. Go up to Mount Moriah. In the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite; which place God appointed for this work, partly, in gracious condescension to and compliance with David’s fear of going to Gibeon, which is expressed…

Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? wherefore doth the king do me this honour, and give himself the trouble of coming to me?

Here be oxen; which were employed by him in his present work, which was threshing, 1 Chron. 21:20. See Poole “Deut. 25:4”.

As a king; the particle as being understood, as it oft is in the Hebrew, i.e. with a royal bounty. Or, Arannab the king, as he might be called, either because he was king of the Jebusites before David took their city, or because he was the son and heir of that king.

Of that which doth cost me nothing; for this would be both dishonourable to God, as if I thought him not worthy of a costly sacrifice; and a disparagement to myself, as if I were unable and unwilling to offer a sacrifice of my own goods; and unsatisfactory to the command of God, which obligeth all…

David built there an altar unto the Lord; which he might well do, having God’s command for it, and the place being sanctified by God’s special presence in and by the angel. Offered burnt-offerings, to make atonement for his sins.