2 Samuel 24:5

_AND THEY PASSED OVER JORDAN AND PITCHED IN AROER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CITY THAT LIETH IN THE MIDST OF THE_ _ AND THEY PASSED OVER JORDAN, AND PITCHED IN AROER, ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CITY THAT LIETH IN THE MIDST OF THE RIVER OF GAD, AND TOWARD JAZER:_ 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, х_ BªTOWK_ (H8432) _ HANACHAL_ (H5158) _ HA-GAAD_ (H1410), in the midst of the torrent of Gad] - i:e., the Arnon (Wady Mojib). It extends over a course estimated at about 60 miles, which, though in summer almost constantly dry, exhibits very evident traces

1-9 For the people's sin David was left to act wrong, and in his chastisement they received punishment. This example throws light upon God's government of the world, and furnishes a useful lesson. The pride of David's heart, was his sin in numbering of the people. He thought thereby to appear the more formidable, trusting in an arm of flesh more than he should have done, and though he had written so much of trusting in God only. God judges not of sin as we do. What appears to us harmless, or, at least, but a small offence, may be a great sin in the eye of God, who discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. Even ungodly men can discern evil tempers and wrong conduct in believers, of which they themselves often remain unconscious. But God seldom allows those whom he loves the pleasures they sinfully covet....

Verse 2 Samuel 24:5. _AND PITCHED IN AROER_] This was beyond Jordan, on the river Arnon, in the tribe of Gad: hence it appears, says _Calmet_, that they began their census with the most _eastern_ parts of the country beyond Jordan....

AROER - Aroer on the Arnon (Deuteronomy 2:36 note). Aroer itself stood on the very edge of the precipitous cliff of the valley; and in the valley beneath, possibly in an island in the stream, stood another city which is here alluded to. RIVER - Rather, “the valley” (margin). They passed from Aroer, northward to Gad, and so pitched at Jazer (see the marginal references), which is on the frontier of Gad and Reuben....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 24:1 AND AGAIN THE ANGER OF JEHOVAH WAS KINDLED AGAINST ISRAEL. It is probable that this chapter once stood in intimate connection with 2 Samuel 21:1; and that the famine therein described was followed by a pestilence, of which the blame largely rested upon David, though the sin punished by it was fully shared by the people. In saying that David was moved of Jehovah to number Israel and Judah, the writer acknowledges the great truth that all action, both good and evil, is of God. "Shall there be evil in a city, and Jehovah hath not done it?" (Amos 3:6). While we are taught to pray that we may not be led into temptation, yet trial and temptation are by G

AND THEY PASSED OVER JORDAN,.... To take the number of the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh first: AND PITCHED IN AROER; for it seems that Joab and the captains had the army with them, and the several captains under their command, partly to assist in numbering the people, and partly to keep them in awe, lest they should oppose them, not knowing what was the design of all this Aroer was a city given to the tribe of Gad, and rebuilt by them, Numbers 32:34; ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CITY; that is, of Aroer, the south side of it, as the Targum, did Joab and his army pitch: THAT [LIETH] IN THE MIDST OF THE RIVER OF GAD; which was the river Arnon, so called now from the tribe of Gad, which possessed it, and so the Targum, in the midst of the river of the tribe of Gad; for in the midst of the river Arnon Aroer lay, s

4. DAVID'S FAILURE: THE ALTAR ON THE THRESHING FLOOR OF ARAUNAH CHAPTER 24 _ 1. The numbering of the people (2 Samuel 24:1)_ 2. The sin acknowledged and Gad's message (2 Samuel 24:10) 3. The pestilence (2 Samuel 24:15) 4. The altar on the threshing floor of Araunah (2 Samuel 24:18) The final chapter of the books of Samuel is of much interest and importance. “And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.” In...

1 SAMUEL 24. THE CENSUS (J). (_Cf._ p. 292.) This event also may belong to the beginning of David's reign over all Israel. 2 SAMUEL 24:1. Here is another illustration of the imperfect recognition of the moral nature of Yahweh in the primitive documents. No one is conscious of sin, yet Yahweh, for some inscrutable, arbitrary reason, is angry with His people. Accordingly, He induces David to commit an obvious sin, so that He may have a justification for punishing Israel. It is useless to ask why a census was sinful; such ideas go too far back for us to trace their origin (Numbers 31:50 *). In the Priestly Code censuses are taken quite happily. The subsequent advance of religious thought in Israel is indicated by the fact that in...

RIGHT SIDE: i.e. the south side, facing east. RIVER OF GAD. the river valley belonging to Gad, which was the Jabbok....

The Numbering of the People 1. _again_ The previous manifestation of God's anger referred to was the famine (ch. 21). It is possible that the two narratives stood in close juxtaposition in the original document used by the compiler. _and he moved David against them_ The subject of the verb is Jehovah. The nation had sinned and incurred His anger, and He instigated David to an act which brought down a sharp punishment on the nation. The statement that God incited David to do what was afterwards condemned and punished as a heinous sin cannot of course mean that He _compelled_David to sin, but that in order to test and prove his character He allowed the temptation to assault him. Thus while we read that "God himself tempteth no man" (James 1:13), we are taught to pray "Bring us not into temptation" ...