Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, 2 Samuel · Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIV.
Verſ. 1. ANd again the anger of the Lord was kindled againſt Iſrael, &c.] Theſe words (and again) have reference to that which was before related, chap. 21. concerning the famine which the Lord in his diſpleaſure ſent amongſt the Iſraelites, immediately after that it ſeems the Lord was again angry with the Iſraelites for their wickedneſſe, and ſo he moved David againſt them, that is, for their hurt, to ſay, Go number the people of Iſrael and Judah, and the meaning of this, that the Lord did this by letting Sathan looſe upon him, and leaving David to himſelf that he might be foyled by Sathan, and therefore it is ſaid, 1. Chron. 21.1. And Sathan ſtood up againſt Iſrael, and provoked David to number Iſrael: and the like we have, 1. Sam. 26.19. If the Lord have ſtirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: 1. Kings 22.22. I will go forth, and be a lying ſpirit in the mouth of all his Prophets.
Verſ. 2. For the king ſaid to Joab the captain of the hoſt, which was with him, &c.] That is, he ſpake to Joab, who had the command in chief over the hoſt, which were at that time in their courſe attending upon David. In 1. Chron. 27.1. &c. it is expreſſely ſaid, that for every ſeverall monethmonth there were ſeverall bands, of four and twenty thouſand, that did in their courſes attend upon the king, and hence is this expreſſion, captain of the hoſt which was with him: and the rather happely is this clauſe added, becauſe the hoſt which now attended in Jeruſalem upon the king, was to go out with Joab to attend him in this ſervice of numbring the people.
Go now through all the tribes of Iſrael, from Dan even to Beer-ſheba, and number ye the people, &c.] He enjoynes them to number the people, that is, all that were fit for warre, verſ. 9. and there were in Iſrael eight hundred thouſand valiant men that drew the ſword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thouſand men: and gives no other reaſon but this, that I may know the number of the people: and herein the ſin of David is intimated, to wit, that he did it cauſeleſſely, merely out of curioſitie and pride, and carnall confidence in the multitude and ſtrength of his people.
Verſ. 3. But why doth my Lord the king delight in this thing?] That is, why ſhould this be done, there being no other cauſe for it, onelyonly to ſatisfie thy curioſitie, and to delight thy ſelf therein? In 1. Chron. 21.3. there are other reaſons added, which Joab uſed alſo to diſſwade the king from this his purpoſe, of numbring the people, as, are they not all my lords ſervants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cauſe of treſpaſſe to Iſrael? concerning which, ſee the note there.
Verſ. 4. Notwithſtanding, the kings word prevailed against Joab, and againſt the captains of the hoſt, &c.] Though not Joab onelyonly, but the captains alſo with him, did what they could to diſſwade David; yet David reſolved it ſhould be ſo, and ſo it was done, though he could not over-ballance them with reaſons, yet his word prevailed, he had ſaid it ſhould be ſo, and therefore it muſt be: it is indeed a very diſputeable queſtion, whether Joab and the other captains did well in yielding to David for the numbring of the people. Some hold that they did well therein, and that becauſe when Princes enjoyn that which is not in it ſelf ſinfull (as doubtleſſe it was not evil in it ſelf to number the people) the ſubject then is bound to obey: others hold that Joab did ſinne in obeying the kings command herein: firſt, becauſe Joab perceived plainly, that David commanded this cauſeleſſely, and onelyonly to ſatisfie his vain glorious humour; and ſo as the commanding of this with ſuch an intention made it ſinfull in David, ſo the obeying of this command in Joab, when he knew the kings intention was evil, could not be warrantable: and ſecondly, becauſe it appears that Joab did it againſt conſcience (for ſo it is ſaid, 1. Chron. 21.6. the kings word was abominable to Joab) yea, and when he did it, his mind gave him it ſeems, that there would come ſome judgement upon the kingdome for it: why doth my lord, ſaith he, require this thing: and indeed in theſe regards, this laſt opinion ſeems to be the moſt probable. Joabs conſcience was againſt this unneceſſary numbring of the people, the rather happely, becauſe it was like to be ſome way chargeable, and burdenſome to the people: but he had once angered David before, by going againſt his command in the death of Abſalom, and he was loth to hazard his diſpleaſure again.
Verſ. 5. And they paſſed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, &c.] A citie of the Gadites, Numb. 32.34. which lay in the midſt of the river Arnon, Deut. 2.36. called here the river of Gad; but that which is moſt obſervable, is the phraſe here uſed, that they pitched in Aroer, which is a military word, with bands and troops of ſouldiers; for of this I know no reaſon that can be given, but that it was to over aw the people, leſt they diſliking what was done, ſhould refuſe to ſubmit to the kings command, and that it may be becauſe there was alwayes ſome tribute, or pollmoney paid at the numbring of the people; at leaſt ſome Officers had their ſees, which was a great burthen to the ſubject, being done, eſpecially with out any juſt cauſe & this might well be one chief reaſon, why the buſineſſe was, as is noted before ſo abominable to Joab.
Verſ. 6. And they came to Dan-jaan.] Which is uſually called Dan without any other addition, as we may ſee, Joſh. 19.47.
Verſ. 7. And came to the ſtrong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites.] That is, all the cities formerly poſſeſſed by thoſe nations, or where ſome remainders of thoſe nations, did ſtill live mixed among the Iſraelites.
Verſ. 9. And there were in Iſrael eight hundred thouſand valiant men that drew the ſword.] Hereby it is evident, that onelyonly thoſe men were numbred, that were of years and of abilitie of body to bear arms, the reaſon whereof is given, 1. Chron. 27.23. But David took not the number from twenty years old and under, becauſe the Lord had ſaid, he would encreaſe Iſrael like the ſtarres in the heavens; and beſides, the intention of David, was chiefly, to know the ſtrength of his kingdome; for that was it wherein his heart was exalted; he deſired to know how many armed men fit for warre, he was able, if need required, to bring into the field; beſides, though it be ſaid in generall, that in Iſrael, that is, in the tribes of Iſrael conſidered apart from Judah, there were eight hundred thouſand valiant men; yet we muſt know that the tribes of Levi and Benjamin were not included in this number; for ſo it is expreſſed, 1. Chron. 21.6. But Levi and Benjamin counted he not amongſt them: for the kings word was abominable to Joab, concerning which, ſee the note in that place; but why is it ſaid, 1. Chron. 21.5. that there were found in Iſrael, eleven hundred thouſand, and here it is ſaid that there were found of them, but eight hundred thouſand? I anſwer, that in the Chronicles it is likely that the ordinary companies of the trained bands are included, which in their turns did every monethmonth attend in Jeruſalem: which are here omitted, becauſe their names were alwayes kept enrolled, and therefore there was no need now to take the account of them: but was there then three hundred thouſand of them? I anſwer, there were two hundred eighty and eight thouſand of them, (for there were four and twenty thouſand which ſerved every monethmonth; and twelve times four and twenty thouſand, make two hundred eighty and eight thouſand) to which if you adde their captains over thouſands and hundreds, and other officers of the bands, they might well make up three hundred thouſand; I know that many Expoſitours do in another manner reconcile theſe two places, and that not improbably, to wit, that in the Chronicles we have the number of all that were numbred by Joab and the captains, which were eleven hundred thouſand, but that here we have the number that Joab gave up to David, which was but eight hundred thouſand, and that becauſe whileſt he was making up the account out of there ſeverall papers, which he was to give in to the king, the plague was begun in Jeruſalem, and that hereupon he brake off in diſcontent, and ſo three hundred thouſand were left out in the account which was by Joab carried in to David, and hence they ſay is that, 1. Chron. 27.24. Joab the ſonne of Zeruiah began to number, but he finiſhed it not, becauſe there fell wrath againſt Iſrael for it, neither was the number put in the account of the Chronicles of king David; but becauſe it is expreſſely ſaid, 1. Chr. 21.5. that Joab gave up to David the ſumme of eleven hundred thouſand of Iſrael; and the ſeries of the hiſtory ſeems plainly to imply, that Joab gave up the ſum of the people before the plague begun, therefore I conceive the firſt anſwer is far the moſt probable. As for that place, 1. Chr. 27.24. ſee the note there
And the men of Judah were five hundred thouſand men.] Both in regard of the dignity of this tribe, and the multitudes of their people; the number of this tribe was given in apart by it ſelf. In 1. Chron. 25.5. it is ſaid there were of Judah four hundred and ſeventy thouſand, here it is ſaid there were of Judah five hundred thouſand; ſo that here are reckoned of Judah thirty thouſand more then are reckoned there, to which there are two ſolutions given by Expoſitours; the firſt is, that the thirty companies under the command of the thirty worthies mentioned in the latter end of the former chapter (which might be all of Judah) are reckoned here, but left out in the Chronicles: the other is, that here is ſet down the totall number of the men of Judah which was taken before the plague, but in the Chronicles thirty thouſand of theſe are left out, becauſe ſo many of them were dead of the plague, but for the reaſon mentioned in the former note, I rather approve of the firſt of theſe.
Verſ. 10. And Davids heart ſmote him after he had numbered the people.] Expoſitours do generally hold, that this was done the very night before the Prophet Gad was ſent unto him, verſ. 11. God wakening his conſcience by the immediate motion of his ſpirit; for though in the Chronicles Gods puniſhing the people is mentioned before Davids repentance, yet it is evident, that firſt Davids heart ſmote him, and then afterwards when he had choſen three dayes peſtilence, the peſtilence was ſent amongſt them: and this was the plague wherewith God ſmote Iſrael, becauſe of Davids ſinne, but yet according to our tranſlation, wherein the following verſe is rendred, not as it is ordinarily in other tranſlations: And when David was up in the morning, &c. but, for when David was up in the morning, the word of the Lord came unto the Prophet Gad, &c. methinks it cannot be otherwiſe taken, but that when David was up the next morning after the number of the people was given unto him by Joab; the Prophet Gad was ſent unto him by the Lord to make known his ſinne, and how he intended to puniſh him for it, and that hereupon Davids heart ſmote him, and he confeſſed his ſinne to the Lord, and begged pardon of him: as is here ſaid, for to what elſe can that particle (for) have reference, but to make known how Davids heart came to be touched with remorſe for his numbring of the people, to wit, that the Prophet Gad was ſent unto him with the following meſſage, and that thereupon his heart ſmote him, and he humbled himſelf before God, as is here expreſſed; but however, evident it is, that all the while that Joab and the captains were numbring the people, which was verſ. 8. Nine moneths, and twenty dayes, David continued in his ſinne without any effectuall check of conſcience for it; which is indeed very obſervable.
Verſ. 12. Thus ſaith the Lord, I offer thee three things, chooſe thee one of them, &c.] Though the Lord knew better then David, which was the leaſt grievous of the three puniſhments, he meant to propound to him, and accordingly had determined to ſend the peſtilence amongſt them; yet did he think fit to tender him warre, and famine, and peſtilence, willing him to chooſe with which of them he would be ſcourged; firſt, becauſe when the peſtilence was ſent amongſt them the very ſcourge which he had choſen, hereby David might plainly ſee, that it was ſent of God, and that for the puniſhment of his ſinne: ſecondly, becauſe this was uſefull to humble David the more by letting him ſee the hainouſneſſe of his ſinne, in the ſharp puniſhments which God might juſtly have laid upon him, as a father that brings forth three or four rods, ſome greater then other, though he means to uſe but one of them, and happely the leaſt, doth thereby the more ſcare his child, and humble him with the fear of his anger, ſo did the Lord deal herein with David: thirdly, becauſe hereby he meant to diſcover his kindneſſe, and mercy to David, who though he might have inflicted what puniſhment he pleaſed himſelf, not onelyonly of theſe three, but of a thouſand more, yet ſuch was his gentleneſſe and goodneſſe to David, that of theſe three he would let him chooſe which he had rather ſuffer: and fourthly, becauſe he would hereby make it more manifeſt, that the determination of our wills by Gods decree, doth no way deprive us of the freedome of our wills, as we ſee in David, who was left freely to chooſe either of theſe puniſhments propounded, and yet choſe (and indeed could not but chooſe) that which God had decreed on.
Verſ. 13. Shall ſeven years of famine come unto thee in thy land?] Three years of famine are onelyonly ſpoken of, in 1. Chron. 21.11, 12. Thus ſaith the Lord, Chooſe thee, Either three years famine, or, &c. therefore we muſt underſtand, that here thoſe years of famine mentioned, chap. 21. are alſo included, becauſe of this plague, would have been much aggravated by this, that having had lately three years of famine, they ſhould now in the fourth yeare be doomed to three years famine more: as if the Prophet had ſaid, three years of famine the land hath already endured, becauſe of Sauls ſinne againſt the Gibeonites, and this is now the fourth yeare wherein the Lord hath manifeſted that his wrath is appeaſed by ſending ſeaſonable ſhowers of rain, but being now again offended by this thy ſinne he propounds unto thee three years famine more, ſhall the famine you are ſcarce yet rid of begin a new, and continue to the end of ſeven years; and theſe are thoſe three years of famine mentioned, 1. Chron, 21.12.
Or that there be three dayes pestilence in thy land?] In 1. Chron. 21.12. or three dayes the ſword of the Lord, even the peſtilence in the land, and the Angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts of Iſrael. It was not therefore an ordinary peſtilence cauſed by the diſtemper of the air, and other naturall cauſes which was now propounded to David, but a peſtilence by the immediate ſtroke of an Angel which is alſo evident indeed by this, that in three dayes ſpace it went throughout all the coaſts of Iſrael, and having continued three dayes did then preſently ceaſe.
Verſ. 14. I am in a great ſtrait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord, &c.] The famine was to continue ſeverall years, the ſword to deſtroy ſeverall moneths, and the peſtilence to laſt onelyonly three dayes, yet David was in a ſtrait which he ſhould chooſe, and that becauſe they were all ſore judgements, and David knew well that the peſtilence might deſtroy as many in three dayes, as the ſword in three moneths, or the famine in three years: but at laſt he choſe the peſtilence, and that becauſe he would rather fall into the hands of God then men, Let us fall, ſaith he, now into the hand of the Lord; for though the ſword and famine are ſent by God, yet in them he uſeth other inſtruments beſides, as men in warre, and other devouring creatures in famine, and beſides, in the peſtilence we depend more immediately upon the Lord for help, whereas in warre and famine our help depends very much upon the mercies of men; and again, uſually when the Lord puniſheth by men, he ſuffers them to deal more ſeverely and cruelly, then himſelf is wont to deal with them when he takes them into his own hand, and this was the main cauſe why David choſe the peſtilence; yet withall his charitie alſo was herein remarkable, that he choſe ſuch a calamitie as would ſpare the Prince no more then the people; whereas in warre he might have got into ſome ſtrong fort, and in famine might have ſtored up proviſion for himſelf, and ſo have hoped to be free.
Verſ. 15. So the Lord ſent a pestilence upon Iſrael, from the morning even to the time appointed,] That is, from the morning when Gad came to David, unto the third day, verſ. 11. For when David was up in the morning, the word of the Lord came unto the Prophet Gad, &c. and Gad came and told it David, &c. all which day the plague ſhould have continued, even the full term of three dayes, but then the Lord repented, and ſtayed the hand of the deſtroying Angel.
And there died of the people from Dan to Beerſheba, ſeventy thouſand men.] To wit, beſides women and children; or elſe, under this word men, women are alſo included, as in other places, however, thus was David puniſhed in that wherein he had ſinned, his mind was lifted up becauſe of the number of his people, and now their numbers are diminiſhed and empaired.
Verſ. 16. And when the Angel ſtretched out his hand upon Jeruſalem to deſtroy it, the Lord repented him &c.] That is, on the third day, when after the ſlaughter of many thouſands in the other parts of the kingdome, the plague was begun in Jeruſalem too; the Lord repented him of the evil which he had threatned, and ſo before the plague had continued full three dayes, the Lord commanded the Angel to ſtay his hand: evident indeed it is, that the charge given to the Angel to ſtay his hand, was not till David and the Elders had humbled themſelves, upon their ſeeing the Angel with a drawn ſword, and had offered up a ſacrifice, as God had enjoyned, for ſo it is ſaid, verſ. 17. that when David prayed, he ſaw the Angel that ſmote the people, and verſ. 25. David built there an altar unto the Lord. &c. So the Lord was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed; onelyonly firſt herein generall this is prefixed, that the Lord repented him, and commanded the Angel to ſtay his hand, and then afterwards it is expreſſed how the Lord was wonne to do this, to wit, by the prayers and ſacrifices which David offered unto him.
Verſ. 17. And David ſpake unto the Lord, when he ſaw the Angel that ſmote the people. &c.] To wit, with a drawn ſword in his hand and that not in a viſion, but in a viſible ſhape; for not onelyonly David, but the Elders alſo that were with him, and Ornan, and his ſonnes are ſaid to have ſeen him, (for Araunah here, is there called Ornan) 1. Chron. 21.16. David ſaw the Angel of the Lord ſtand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn ſword in his hand: verſ. 20. And Ornan turned back and ſaw the Angel, and his four ſonnes with him, and they went and hid themſelves.
Lo, I have ſinned, and I have done wickedly: but theſe ſheep, what have they done? &c.] To wit, in that act of numbring the people, for which David had been told, that the peſtilence was ſent amongſt them, for ſo it is expreſſed in 1. Chron. 11.17. David knew well enough that there was too much ſinne amongſt the people, to provoke God to deſtroy them, but he knew withall, that the preſent plague was ſent amongſt them for his ſinne in numbring the people, and that it was that did chiefly rend the bowels of David, that by his ſinne he had cauſed ſuch a ſlaughter to be made amongſt the people, which made him plead ſo earneſtly their innocence, in regard of this ſinne, and to ſtep in as it were betwixt the ſword of the Angel, and the poor people, Let thine hand I pray thee be againſt me, and against my fathers houſe; which may be meant either of his tendring himſelf alone, to be ſlain in ſtead of the people (for the whole houſe of his father would have ſuffered greatly in his death) or elſe as an expreſſion of his reall deſire, that he and his whole family ſhould be cut off, rather then that the people ſhould ſuffer as they did.
Verſ. 18. And Gad came that day to David, and ſaid unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the Lord, in the threſhing-floore of Araunah the Jebuſite.] That God by his Angel did ſend the Prophet Gad with this meſſage to David, is evident, verſ. 19. And David, according to the ſaying of Gad, went up as the Lord commanded, and 1. Chron. 21.18, Then the Angel of the Lord commanded Gad to ſay to David, that David ſhould go up and ſet up an altar, &c. though David and the Elders of Iſrael had humbled themſelves in ſackcloth, and prayed unto the Lord, 1. Chron. 21.16, 17, 18. Yet for the ſtaying of the plague, the Lord would have beſides an altar reared, and ſacrifices offered thereon, which was doubtleſſe, to teach them that there was no way to obtain the pardon of their ſinne, and the removall of their preſent judgement, but by faith in that propitiatory ſacrifice which their promiſed Meſſiah was to offer up for them: but why was this altar appointed to be reared in the threſhing floore of Araunah the Jebuſite? I anſwer, firſt, to intimate the end of this ſacrifice, to wit, that it was to ſtay the plague, that it might go no further, there it was that the Angel appeared in a viſible ſhape, with a drawn ſword, 1. Chron. 21.15. The Angel of the Lord ſtood by the threſhing floore of Ornan the Jebuſite, thither therefore David was ſent to rear up an altar, and to offer ſacrifices: ſecondly▪ becauſe of Davids fear, the Lord having a gracious reſpect herein to the ſad condition of his poor ſervant, which we find expreſſed. 1. Chron. 21.29.30. The tabernacle of the Lord which Moſes made in the wilderneſſe, and the altar of tht burnt offerings, were at that ſeaſon in the high places at Gibeon. But David could not go before it to enquire of God; for he was afraid, becauſe of the ſword of the Angel of the Lord, that is, he durſt not give over interceding there, to go unto Gibeon, for fear of the ſlaughter that might be made in the interim, by the ſword of the Angel amongſt the inhabitants of Jeruſalem; or elſe he was ſo weakened with the terrour of ſeeing the Angel with a drawn ſword, that he was not able to go thither; and when he could not go to Gibeon, what place was then ſitter to reare an altar in, then that where the Angel appeared with a drawn ſword? thirdly, to ſignifie the calling of the Gentiles; for Araunah being of the ſtock of the Jebuſites, though doubtleſſe at preſent a proſelite, that is, one that was converted to the faith of Iſrael, the Lords appointing David to rear an altar in his threſhing…floore, did notably ſhadow forth, that the day ſhould come when God would dwell amongſt the Gentiles, and be worſhipped by them: and fourthly, becauſe God had determined in this very place to have the Temple built, as is evident, 2. Chron. 3.1. Then Solomon began to build the houſe of the Lord in Jeruſalem, in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared, in the threſhing floore of Ornan the Jebuſite: and ſo the Lord would have this place conſecrated as it were, and endeared to the people, by the ſacrifice that procured ſo great a bleſſing for them, as was the ſtaying of this raging peſtilence.
Verſ. 22. Behold, here be oxen for burnt ſacrifices, and threſhing inſtruments, and other inſtruments of the oxen for wood.] In 1. Chron. 21.23. there is added, that he offered him alſo his wheat for a meat-offering: Lo, I will give thee the oxen alſo for burnt-offerings, and the threſhing inſtruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat-offering, I give it all; partly becauſe of the terrour he was ſtricken into, by ſeeing the Angel with the drawn ſword (for as it is noted before, from 1. Chron. 21.20, both he and his ſonnes had ſeen the Angel, and hid themſelves) and partly, becauſe he was told that the altar and ſacrifices intended, were for the removing of that heavy judgement that lay now upon the people; in ſtead of ſelling, he proffered to give unto David, not the threſhing floore onelyonly, but the oxen alſo, the threſhing inſtruments, wheat and all, not caring how much he gave for ſo good a uſe.
Verſ. 23. All theſe things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king.] The moſt Expoſitours do hereupon inferre, that this Araunah had been king of the Jebuſites, and embracing the faith of Iſrael, was content to live as a private man, and to let David reigne as king in Jeruſalem, and indeed in the Hebrew it is, All theſe things did Araunah a king, give unto the king; but this ground methinks is not ſufficient to warrant this conceit, rather I conceive this expreſſion is uſed by way of extolling the bounty of Araunah, that he did herein as it were, match David the king in bounty, & carried himſelf more like a king then a private ſubject, in this his princely bounty.
Verſ. 24. And the king ſaid unto Araunah, Nay, but I will ſurely buy it of thee at a price, &c.] Some conceive that David would needs give the full price for theſe things, becauſe he would not take away that which was anothers, to give unto God; as knowing well that ſometimes a kings requeſt, is in effect a command, & that ſubjects do often give what they would not part with, but that they dare not but give it: but becauſe David might well ſee that Araunah offered theſe thing freely, it is better ſaid by others, that this was from the ingenuity of David, becauſe he was not willing to ſerve God coſt-free.
So David bought the threſhing-floore, and the oxen, for fifty ſhekels of ſilver.] 1. Chron. 11.25. It is ſaid, that David gave to Ornan for the place, ſix hundred ſhekels of gold by weight, which ſeeming difference is thus reconciled, to wit, that he bought the threſning-floore, and the oxen, as here, for fifty ſhekels of ſilver, but for the whole place, and the ground, with the houſes, where afterward the Temple was built, he gave ſix hundred ſhekels of gold.
Verſ. 25. So the Lord was intreated for the land, and the plague was ſtayed from Iſrael.] And this the Lord teſtified by ſending fire from heaven to conſume the ſacrifices, as is expreſſed, 1. Chron. 21.26 and he anſwered him from heaven by fire upon the altar which muſt be meant onelyonly of burning the burnt offerings; for the ſacrifices of peace offerings were not burnt upon the altar, but were to be eaten as a holy feaſt, ſo that it ſeems the burnt-offerings were firſt offered on the altar, which were miraculouſly conſumed by fire from heaven, and then afterwards the peace-offerings were offered upon the ſame altar.