21 And Araunah H728 said, H559 Wherefore is my lord H113 the king H4428 come H935 to his servant? H5650 And David H1732 said, H559 To buy H7069 the threshingfloor H1637 of thee, to build H1129 an altar H4196 unto the LORD, H3068 that the plague H4046 may be stayed H6113 from the people. H5971
And he communed H1696 with them, saying, H559 If it be H3426 your mind H5315 that I should bury H6912 my dead H4191 out of my sight; H6440 hear H8085 me, and intreat H6293 for me to Ephron H6085 the son H1121 of Zohar, H6714 That he may give H5414 me the cave H4631 of Machpelah, H4375 which he hath, which is in the end H7097 of his field; H7704 for as much H4392 money H3701 as it is worth H4392 he shall give it H5414 me for a possession H272 of a buryingplace H6913 amongst you. H8432 And Ephron H6085 dwelt H3427 among H8432 the children H1121 of Heth: H2845 and Ephron H6085 the Hittite H2850 answered H6030 Abraham H85 in the audience H241 of the children H1121 of Heth, H2845 even of all that went in H935 at the gate H8179 of his city, H5892 saying, H559 Nay, H3808 my lord, H113 hear me: H8085 the field H7704 give I H5414 thee, and the cave H4631 that is therein, I give it H5414 thee; in the presence H5869 of the sons H1121 of my people H5971 give H5414 I it thee: bury H6912 thy dead. H4191 And Abraham H85 bowed down H7812 himself before H6440 the people H5971 of the land. H776 And he spake H1696 unto Ephron H6085 in the audience H241 of the people H5971 of the land, H776 saying, H559 But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, H3863 hear H8085 me: I will give H5414 thee money H3701 for the field; H7704 take H3947 it of me, and I will bury H6912 my dead H4191 there. And Ephron H6085 answered H6030 Abraham, H85 saying H559 unto him, My lord, H113 hearken H8085 unto me: the land H776 is worth four H702 hundred H3967 shekels H8255 of silver; H3701 what is that betwixt H996 me and thee? bury H6912 therefore thy dead. H4191 And Abraham H85 hearkened H8085 unto Ephron; H6085 and Abraham H85 weighed H8254 to Ephron H6085 the silver, H3701 which he had named H1696 in the audience H241 of the sons H1121 of Heth, H2845 four H702 hundred H3967 shekels H8255 of silver, H3701 current H5674 money with the merchant. H5503
And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559 Get you up H7426 from among H8432 this congregation, H5712 that I may consume H3615 them as in a moment. H7281 And they fell H5307 upon their faces. H6440 And Moses H4872 said H559 unto Aaron, H175 Take H3947 a censer, H4289 and put H5414 fire H784 therein from off H6440 the altar, H4196 and put H7760 on incense, H7004 and go H3212 quickly H4120 unto the congregation, H5712 and make an atonement H3722 for them: for there is wrath H7110 gone out H3318 from the LORD; H3068 the plague H5063 is begun. H2490 And Aaron H175 took H3947 as Moses H4872 commanded, H1696 and ran H7323 into the midst H8432 of the congregation; H6951 and, behold, the plague H5063 was begun H2490 among the people: H5971 and he put H5414 on incense, H7004 and made an atonement H3722 for the people. H5971 And he stood H5975 between the dead H4191 and the living; H2416 and the plague H4046 was stayed. H6113 Now they that died H4191 in the plague H4046 were fourteen H702 H6240 thousand H505 and seven H7651 hundred, H3967 beside them that died H4191 about the matter H1697 of Korah. H7141 And Aaron H175 returned H7725 unto Moses H4872 unto the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation: H4150 and the plague H4046 was stayed. H6113
Wherefore David H1732 said H559 unto the Gibeonites, H1393 What shall I do H6213 for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, H3722 that ye may bless H1288 the inheritance H5159 of the LORD? H3068 And the Gibeonites H1393 said H559 unto him, We will have no silver H3701 nor gold H2091 of H5973 Saul, H7586 nor of his house; H1004 neither for us shalt thou kill H4191 any man H376 in Israel. H3478 And he said, H559 What ye shall say, H559 that will I do H6213 for you. And they answered H559 the king, H4428 The man H376 that consumed H3615 us, and that devised H1819 against us that we should be destroyed H8045 from remaining H3320 in any of the coasts H1366 of Israel, H3478 Let seven H7651 men H582 of his sons H1121 be delivered H5414 unto us, and we will hang them up H3363 unto the LORD H3068 in Gibeah H1390 of Saul, H7586 whom the LORD H3068 did choose. H972 And the king H4428 said, H559 I will give H5414 them. But the king H4428 spared H2550 Mephibosheth, H4648 the son H1121 of Jonathan H3083 the son H1121 of Saul, H7586 because of the LORD'S H3068 oath H7621 that was between them, between David H1732 and Jonathan H3083 the son H1121 of Saul. H7586 But the king H4428 took H3947 the two H8147 sons H1121 of Rizpah H7532 the daughter H1323 of Aiah, H345 whom she bare H3205 unto Saul, H7586 Armoni H764 and Mephibosheth; H4648 and the five H2568 sons H1121 of Michal H4324 the daughter H1323 of Saul, H7586 whom she brought up H3205 for Adriel H5741 the son H1121 of Barzillai H1271 the Meholathite: H4259 And he delivered H5414 them into the hands H3027 of the Gibeonites, H1393 and they hanged H3363 them in the hill H2022 before H6440 the LORD: H3068 and they fell H5307 all seven H7651 H7659 together, H3162 and were put to death H4191 in the days H3117 of harvest, H7105 in the first H7223 days, in the beginning H8462 of barley H8184 harvest. H7105 And Rizpah H7532 the daughter H1323 of Aiah H345 took H3947 sackcloth, H8242 and spread H5186 it for her upon the rock, H6697 from the beginning H8462 of harvest H7105 until water H4325 dropped H5413 upon them out of heaven, H8064 and suffered H5414 neither the birds H5775 of the air H8064 to rest H5117 on them by day, H3119 nor the beasts H2416 of the field H7704 by night. H3915 And it was told H5046 David H1732 what Rizpah H7532 the daughter H1323 of Aiah, H345 the concubine H6370 of Saul, H7586 had done. H6213 And David H1732 went H3212 and took H3947 the bones H6106 of Saul H7586 and the bones H6106 of Jonathan H3083 his son H1121 from the men H1167 of Jabeshgilead, H3003 H1568 which had stolen H1589 them from the street H7339 of Bethshan, H1052 where the Philistines H6430 had hanged H8511 H8518 them, when H3117 the Philistines H6430 had slain H5221 Saul H7586 in Gilboa: H1533 And he brought up H5927 from thence the bones H6106 of Saul H7586 and the bones H6106 of Jonathan H3083 his son; H1121 and they gathered H622 the bones H6106 of them that were hanged. H3363 And the bones H6106 of Saul H7586 and Jonathan H3083 his son H1121 buried H6912 they in the country H776 of Benjamin H1144 in Zelah, H6762 in the sepulchre H6913 of Kish H7027 his father: H1 and they performed H6213 all that the king H4428 commanded. H6680 And after H310 that God H430 was intreated H6279 for the land. H776
And Jeremiah H3414 said, H559 The word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto me, saying, H559 Behold, Hanameel H2601 the son H1121 of Shallum H7967 thine uncle H1730 shall come H935 unto thee, saying, H559 Buy H7069 thee my field H7704 that is in Anathoth: H6068 for the right H4941 of redemption H1353 is thine to buy H7069 it. So Hanameel H2601 mine uncle's H1730 son H1121 came H935 to me in the court H2691 of the prison H4307 according to the word H1697 of the LORD, H3068 and said H559 unto me, Buy H7069 my field, H7704 I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, H6068 which is in the country H776 of Benjamin: H1144 for the right H4941 of inheritance H3425 is thine, and the redemption H1353 is thine; buy H7069 it for thyself. Then I knew H3045 that this was the word H1697 of the LORD. H3068 And I bought H7069 the field H7704 of Hanameel H2601 my uncle's H1730 son, H1121 that was in Anathoth, H6068 and weighed H8254 him the money, H3701 even seventeen H7651 H6235 shekels H8255 of silver. H3701 And I subscribed H3789 the evidence, H5612 and sealed H2856 it, and took H5749 witnesses, H5707 and weighed H8254 him the money H3701 in the balances. H3976 So I took H3947 the evidence H5612 of the purchase, H4736 both that which was sealed H2856 according to the law H4687 and custom, H2706 and that which was open: H1540 And I gave H5414 the evidence H5612 of the purchase H4736 unto Baruch H1263 the son H1121 of Neriah, H5374 the son H1121 of Maaseiah, H4271 in the sight H5869 of Hanameel H2601 mine uncle's H1730 son, and in the presence H5869 of the witnesses H5707 that subscribed H3789 the book H5612 of the purchase, H4736 before H5869 all the Jews H3064 that sat H3427 in the court H2691 of the prison. H4307 And I charged H6680 Baruch H1263 before H5869 them, saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel; H3478 Take H3947 these evidences, H5612 this evidence H5612 of the purchase, H4736 both which is sealed, H2856 and this evidence H5612 which is open; H1540 and put H5414 them in an earthen H2789 vessel, H3627 that they may continue H5975 many H7227 days. H3117
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Samuel 24
Commentary on 2 Samuel 24 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 24
2Sa 24:1-9. David Numbers the People.
1-4. again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah—"Again" carries us back to the former tokens of His wrath in the three years' famine [2Sa 21:1]. God, though He cannot tempt any man (Jas 1:13), is frequently described in Scripture as doing what He merely permits to be done; and so, in this case, He permitted Satan to tempt David. Satan was the active mover, while God only withdrew His supporting grace, and the great tempter prevailed against the king. (See Ex 7:13; 1Sa 26:19; 2Sa 16:10; Ps 105:25; Isa 7:17, &c.). The order was given to Joab, who, though not generally restrained by religious scruples, did not fail to present, in strong terms (see on 1Ch 21:3), the sin and danger of this measure. He used every argument to dissuade the king from his purpose. The sacred history has not mentioned the objections which he and other distinguished officers urged against it in the council of David. But it expressly states that they were all overruled by the inflexible resolution of the king.
5. they passed over Jordan—This census was taken first in the eastern parts of the Hebrew kingdom; and it would seem that Joab was accompanied by a military force, either to aid in this troublesome work, or to overawe the people who might display reluctance or opposition.
the river of Gad—"Wady" would be a better term. It extends over a course estimated at about sixty miles, which, though in summer almost constantly dry, exhibits very evident traces of being swept over by an impetuous torrent in winter (see De 2:36).
6. the land of Tahtim-hodshi—that is, the land lately acquired; namely, that of the Hagarites conquered by Saul (1Ch 5:10). The progress was northward. Thence they crossed the country, and, proceeding along the western coast to the southern extremities of the country, they at length arrived in Jerusalem, having completed the enumeration of the whole kingdom in the space of nine months and twenty days.
9. Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king—The amount here stated, compared with 1Ch 21:5, gives a difference of three hundred thousand. The discrepancy is only apparent, and admits of an easy reconciliation; thus (see 1Ch 27:1-15), there were twelve divisions of generals, who commanded monthly, and whose duty was to keep guard on the royal person, each having a body of troops consisting of twenty-four thousand men, which, together, formed an army of two hundred eighty-eight thousand; and as a separate detachment of twelve thousand was attendant on the twelve princes of the twelve tribes mentioned in the same chapter, so both are equal to three hundred thousand. These were not reckoned in this book, because they were in the actual service of the king as a regular militia. But 1Ch 21:5 joins them to the rest, saying, "all those of Israel were one million, one hundred thousand"; whereas the author of Samuel, who reckons only the eight hundred thousand, does not say, "all those of Israel," but barely "and Israel were," &c. It must also be observed that, exclusive of the troops before mentioned, there was an army of observation on the frontiers of the Philistines' country, composed of thirty thousand men, as appears from 2Sa 6:1; which, it seems, were included in the number of five hundred thousand of the people of Judah by the author of Samuel. But the author of Chronicles, who mentions only four hundred seventy thousand, gives the number of that tribe exclusive of those thirty thousand men, because they were not all of the tribe of Judah, and therefore he does not say, "all those of Judah," as he had said, "all those of Israel," but only, "and those of Judah." Thus both accounts may be reconciled [Davidson].
2Sa 24:10-14. He, Having Three Plagues Propounded by GAD, Repents, and Chooses Three Days' Pestilence.
10-13. David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the Lord, I have sinned—The act of numbering the people was not in itself sinful; for Moses did it by the express authority of God. But David acted not only independently of such order or sanction, but from motives unworthy of the delegated king of Israel; from pride and vainglory; from self-confidence and distrust of God; and, above all, from ambitious designs of conquest, in furtherance of which he was determined to force the people into military service, and to ascertain whether he could muster an army sufficient for the magnitude of the enterprises he contemplated. It was a breach of the constitution, an infringement of the liberties of the people, and opposed to that divine policy which required that Israel should continue a separate people. His eyes were not opened to the heinousness of his sin till God had spoken unto him by His commissioned prophet.
13. Shall seven years of famine come unto thee—that is, in addition to the three that had been already, with the current year included (see on 1Ch 21:11).
14. David said, … Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord—His overwhelming sense of his sin led him to acquiesce in the punishment denounced, notwithstanding its apparent excess of severity. He proceeded on a good principle in choosing the pestilence. In pestilence he was equally exposed, as it was just and right he should be, to danger as his people, whereas, in war and famine, he possessed means of protection superior to them. Besides, he thereby showed his trust, founded on long experience, in the divine goodness.
2Sa 24:15-25. His Intercession to God; the Plague Ceases.
15. from the morning—rather that morning when Gad came [2Sa 24:18], till the end of the three days.
there died of the people … seventy thousand men—Thus was the pride of the vainglorious monarch, confiding in the number of his population, deeply humbled.
16. the Lord repented him of the evil—God is often described in Scripture as repenting when He ceased to pursue a course He had begun.
17. David … said—or, "had said,"
I have sinned … but these sheep, what have they done?—The guilt of numbering the people lay exclusively with David. But in the body politic as well as natural, when the head suffers, all the members suffer along with it; and, besides, although David's sin was the immediate cause, the great increase of national offenses at this time had (2Sa 24:1) kindled the anger of the Lord.
18. Araunah—or Ornan (1Ch 21:18), the Jebusite, one of the ancient inhabitants, who, having become a convert to the true religion, retained his house and possessions. He resided on Mount Moriah, the spot on which the temple was afterwards built (2Ch 3:1); but that mount was not then enclosed in the town.
21. to build an altar unto the Lord, that the plague may be stayed—It is evident that the plague was not stayed till after the altar was built, and the sacrifice offered, so that what is related (2Sa 24:16) was by anticipation. Previous to the offering of this sacrifice, he had seen the destroying angel as well as offered the intercessory prayer (2Sa 24:17). This was a sacrifice of expiation; and the reason why he was allowed to offer it on Mount Moriah was partly in gracious consideration to his fear of repairing to Gibeon (1Ch 21:29, 30), and partly in anticipation of the removal of the tabernacle and the erection of the temple there (2Ch 3:1).
23. All these things did Araunah, as a king, give—Indicating, as the sense is, that this man had been anciently a heathen king or chief, but was now a proselyte who still retained great property and influence in Jerusalem, and whose piety was evinced by the liberality of his offers. The words, "as a king," are taken by some to signify simply, "he gave with royal munificence."
24. Nay; … I will … buy it of thee at a price—The sum mentioned here, namely, fifty shekels of silver, equal £6 sterling, was paid for the floor, oxen and wood instruments only, whereas the large sum (1Ch 21:25) was paid afterwards for the whole hill, on which David made preparations for building the temple.
25. David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings—There seem to have been two sacrifices; the first expiatory, the second a thanksgiving for the cessation of the pestilence (see on 1Ch 21:26).