AGAIN] This refers to the former occasion mentioned in 2 Samuel 21. HE MOVED] Chronicles states that 'Satan.. provoked David.' The older account does not enter into the distinction between what God permits and what God causes. This distinction is the result of later reflection and more subtle theolo... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NUMBERING OF THE PEOPLE, AND ITS PENALTY In punishment for David's sin in numbering the people, God sends a pestilence, which slays 70,000 men. In gratitude for the stay of the plague, David erects an altar in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE RIGHT SIDE (i.e. on the south) OF THE CITY THAT _lieth_ IN THE MIDST OF THE RIVER (RV 'valley')] Perhaps this city was Ar of Moab (Isaiah 15:1).... [ Continue Reading ]
TAHTIM-HODSHI] Thenius conjectures that this is a mistake for 'Kadesh,' a town on the Orontes marking the extreme northern limit of Israel. DAN-JAAN] read 'Dan.' 10. David's sin consisted in pride in his own strength and forgetfulness of his dependence on God. It was the very sin which ruined Saul.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN YEARS] LXX and Chronicles read 'three years.'... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE MORNING EVEN TO THE TIME APPOINTED] These words occasion some difficulty as the pestilence was stayed before the appointed time. They are omitted in Chronicles.... [ Continue Reading ]
INSTRUMENTS OF THE OXEN] i.e. the wooden yoke: cp. 1 Kings 19:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
This v. continues Araunah's speech: RV 'all this, O king, doth Araunah give.'... [ Continue Reading ]