II Samuel 24; I Chronicles 21-22; Psalm 30     Listen

The REAL story about the evil of the census (II Samuel 24:1-17; I Chronicles 21:1-17)

So...David's experiencing success as King of Israel and decides that he would like to have an accurate census of Israel proper, from Dan (northern border) to Beersheba (southern border). That did not include those non Jews in occupied territories - just those Jewish men who were qualified to serve in David's army. What's the problem? What can possibly be the harm in getting a count?

Let's compare verse 1 from both passages:

II Samuel 24:1 Again the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, "Go, number Israel and Judah."
I Chronicles 21:1 Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.

Notice in II Samuel that the LORD was angry with Israel already for some reason. It's easy to extrapolate from this passage that perhaps David and his people had become less dependent on God because of their prosperity - the prosperity documented in I Chronicles 22:18 (see below).

There's a bit more insight into this issue of the numbering of Israel found in I Chronicles 27:23-24 (see notes), "But David did not take the number of those twenty years old and under, because the LORD had said He would multiply Israel like the stars of the heavens. Joab the son of Zeruiah began a census, but he did not finish, for wrath came upon Israel because of this census; nor was the number recorded in the account of the chronicles of King David." Now...view these two verses in the light of two promises made to Abraham:

Genesis 15:5 (see notes) Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
Genesis 22:17 (see notes) blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.

There's yet another consideration with regard to this census found in Exodus 30:11-16 (see notes):

11 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
12 “When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them.
13 This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The half-shekel shall be an offering to the LORD.
14 Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering to the LORD.
15 The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when you give an offering to the LORD, to make atonement for yourselves.
16 And you shall take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shall appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD, to make atonement for yourselves.”

We aren't told why, but taking a count of the Tribes of Israel was something not to be taken lightly - so much so that an offering was to be required from each person counted. This offering accompanying the census was to prevent a "plague among them." There is no reference to such an offering accompanying David's census...and the result was a "plague among them."

Further evidence of the gravity of the situation with regard to counting the people is seen in Numbers 31:48-50 (see notes):

48 ¶ Then the officers who were over thousands of the army, the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, came near to Moses;
49 and they said to Moses, “Your servants have taken a count of the men of war who are under our command, and not a man of us is missing.
50 Therefore we have brought an offering for the LORD, what every man found of ornaments of gold: armlets and bracelets and signet rings and earrings and necklaces, to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.”

Here again, an offering was required of each man of war. While that may not give us an answer sufficient to our level of curiosity on the matter, it does give us some insight into the issue. Apparently David's motivation and procedure here was unacceptable before God. Furthermore, after the plague is stopped at the threshing floor of Araunah (aka Ornan), David insists on paying the complete price for this future site of the temple. He sees it as a sacrifice (see below at II Samuel 24:18-25; I Chronicles 21:18-22:1). That would indicate that perhaps David finally understood a linkage between the counting of the people without an offering brings plague.

Also for our consideration, based upon I Chronicles 27:23-24 (see notes) in the light of God's promises to Abraham, it would appear to be possible that numbering Israel flew in the face of the Abrahamic Covenant of a seed so plentiful that it could not be numbered. The census does yield some really huge numbers for an Israeli fighting force - over 1.5 million soldiers (regular army plus national guard). To support this notion, we see the following statement by Solomon in I Kings 3:8 (see notes) during his conversation with God after taking over the throne, "And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted." It is expressed similarly in the same account by Ezra in II Chronicles 1:9 (see notes), "Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude." It would appear from Solomon's prayer to God there that he knew the people were not to be numbered...perhaps a lesson he learned from David's census experience here.

Incidentally, the "chronicles of king David" found in I Chronicles 27:24 is a reference to the log made as a record of the notable events and transactions in a king's reign. It is not a reference to the Book of Chronicles.

Here's a principle that existed from the Garden of Eden and still is God's mode of operation with his people. As in the Book of Job (see notes), God allows Satan to try his people. Incidentally, this is the first occasion in the Old Testament where the Hebrew word "satan" (our English word is transliterated exactly) is used as a proper name (without the definite article). Previously the word was used to describe an adversary. So here's the deal: God is angry with his people, so he allows Satan to tempt David into numbering his big ol' fighting force.

One more verse perhaps needs a conjecture; I Chronicles 21:6 says, "But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king’s word was abominable to Joab." You will recall that previously whenever the people were numbered, it was always for the purpose of determining the size of the fighting force. The Levites were never counted in that number (they didn't fight, Numbers 1:49-50, see notes). However, Levites are listed in the composition of David's army in I Chronicles 12 (see notes). The tabernacle itself was located in Jerusalem at this point in time, so there would have been a bigger concentration of Levites there; Jerusalem was located in Benjamin's territory. Joab reluctantly took David's census in the first place; this must be where Joab drew the line on the effort. So, though living in peace and prosperity, David is tempted by Satan to embark upon a nine-month task of assessing the strength of his fighting force. Perhaps this particular temptation was placed before the people of Israel because they were starting to feel self sufficient and proud of their personal accomplishments.

So, David, what's the secret of your military expertise - God on your side leading the way? David might have replied, "Naw...I think it's because I have a really big army. As a matter of fact, I wonder how big my national guard really is," David must have wondered. Even though Joab warns David that it's a really bad idea, what the king wants, the king gets. Just as we thought - David has a really big national guard. God isn't pleased though that David succumbed to the temptation of Satan.

God, through the prophet Gad, gives David a choice of three punishments for this transgression; none of them pleasant.

• Seven years of famine for Israel
• Three months flight from David's enemies
• Three days of an angel-induced pestilence

Behind door #3...a plague! But it's only for three days though - and it's from God rather than from David's enemies (that was door #2). The pestilence costs David 70,000 men, but falls short of the destruction of Jerusalem. As a matter of fact, the angel in charge of pestilence stops at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite (spelled Araunah in II Samuel) as David pleads for mercy. This threshing floor becomes very important in Jewish history as it becomes the site of the Temple.

To put this incident into perspective, I'm reminded of James 1:14-15 (see notes), " But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death" It started with temptation and ended with sin.

Is it sacrifice if it costs you nothing? (II Samuel 24:18-25; I Chronicles 21:18-22:1)

The prophet Gad told David he should go erect an altar to God there where the pestilence ceased - there on the threshing floor (a big outdoor open spot) that belonged to Ornan (aka Araunah) the Jebusite. You may recall that the Jebusites were the previous owners of Jerusalem before David came to town. Understand, David was not opposed to taking property, but this is different; it's the future site of God's Temple. If there is no price to pay, there is no sacrifice. Even though Araunah the Jebusite offers to donate the property, David insists that he pay for the site of his altar. After all, the welfare of all Israel is at stake here - no mistakes or shortcomings allowed.

So, how much did David pay for this property - 50 shekels of silver (II Samuel) or 600 shekels of gold (I Chronicles)? The I Chronicles text explicitly says that David bought "the site," which included the whole area of Mount Moriah. Samuel's account includes only the price for the oxen and the threshing floor. Both accounts are accurate.

A word of explanation is in order regarding the Tabernacle located at Gibeon. Prior to Gibeon, it had been located at Nob in I Samuel 22 (see notes). It was perhaps Saul who had the tabernacle moved to Gibeon after he massacred the priests there at Nob. While we see in I Chronicles 21:29 that sacrifices were still being made at the Tabernacle located in Gibeon, David had moved the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem to another tabernacle back in II Samuel 6; I Chronicles 13 (see notes). So, the tabernacle in Jerusalem contained the Ark of the Covenant at this point in time, while the priests were making sacrifices at the Tabernacle located in Gibeon.

Solomon! We have a really big project for you (I Chronicles 22:2-19)

2 So David commanded to gather the aliens who were in the land of Israel; and he appointed masons to cut hewn stones to build the house of God.
3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails of the doors of the gates and for the joints, and bronze in abundance beyond measure,
4 and cedar trees in abundance; for the Sidonians and those from Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.
5 ¶ Now David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make preparation for it.” So David made abundant preparations before his death.
6 ¶ Then he called for his son Solomon, and charged him to build a house for the LORD God of Israel.
7 And David said to Solomon: “My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the LORD my God;
8 but the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight.
9 Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.
10 He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’
11 Now, my son, may the LORD be with you; and may you prosper, and build the house of the LORD your God, as He has said to you.
12 Only may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of the LORD your God.
13 Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and judgments with which the LORD charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage; do not fear nor be dismayed.
14 Indeed I have taken much trouble to prepare for the house of the LORD one hundred thousand talents of gold and one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond measure, for it is so abundant. I have prepared timber and stone also, and you may add to them.
15 Moreover there are workmen with you in abundance: woodsmen and stonecutters, and all types of skillful men for every kind of work.
16 Of gold and silver and bronze and iron there is no limit. Arise and begin working, and the LORD be with you.”
17 ¶ David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
18 “Is not the LORD your God with you? And has He not given you rest on every side? For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and before His people.
19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God. Therefore arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy articles of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the LORD.”

David explains to Solomon that he'll have to build the temple because God told David he couldn't do it - too much blood on his hands. One such occasion of excessive blood on his hands could be II Samuel 8:1-18 (see notes) when he executed some Moabite prisoners of war after their defeat. However, that doesn't prevent Dad from setting Solomon up for success in the project though. He gets all the people behind his boy and donates a massive amount of resources to the building of the temple. By 2006 exchange rates, David allocated $36 billion (yes, I said billion) in gold and another $4.2 billion in silver along with lots of other building materials. Even with the typical cost overruns, you can build a really nice temple for that amount of money.

By the way, as David recounts his "word of the LORD" in verses 8-10, he includes the provisions of the covenant known as "The Davidic Covenant" when he says in verse 10, "I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever." For additional scripture regarding God's covenant with David, click here.

It is important to note in this passage that David calls the leadership of Israel together to formally announce Solomon as his successor (verse 17) and to charge them to assist Solomon in the temple-building project. However, later on, Adonijah (Solomon's half brother) unsuccessfully attempts to hijack the throne before David even gasps for his last breath (I Kings 1:5-10, see notes).

There's an interesting aspect here that is not evident, except in the Hebrew language. David had been denied the opportunity to build the Temple because of blood on his hands. So, he turns the project over to his son, Solomon. It just so happens that Solomon's name is based on the familiar Hebrew word for "peace," which is "shalom." As a matter of fact, Solomon's name begins with the exact same three Hebrew letters that spell "shalom" with the additional Hebrew letter "he" added to the ending to turn the word into a name. It appears that David named his boy with the intention that he would fulfill the role of being the peaceful agent to whom would be given the privilege by God to build his Temple.

God is my strength (Psalm 30)

A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the house of David.
1 ¶ I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up,
And have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried out to You,
And You healed me.
3 O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave;
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4 Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
5 For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.
6 Now in my prosperity I said,
“I shall never be moved.”
7 LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong;
You hid Your face, and I was troubled.
8 I cried out to You, O LORD;
And to the LORD I made supplication:
9 “What profit is there in my blood,
When I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise You?
Will it declare Your truth?
10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me;
LORD, be my helper!”
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

The title to this Psalm says, "A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the house of David." Israel certainly has a lot to be thankful for. This Psalm summarizes it nicely. While not specifically stated, the personal nature of the comments in this Psalm strongly suggests Davidic authorship.

This Psalm may be summarized as follows:

• David acknowledges God’s deliverance, and calls upon the congregation to join in praise (verses 1-5)
• David recalls his past sin (verses 6-10)
• David renews his praise to God (verses 11-12).