1 Chronicles21
English Standard Version
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1 Then and to .
2 So to and the of the , , , , and me a report, that I may their .
3 But , May the Lord add his a as as are! Are they , my the , of them my ? then should my ? should it be a cause of for ?
4 But the . So and throughout and back to .
5 And the of the of the to . In there were who the , and in the .
6 But he did and in the , the was to .
7 But was with this , and he .
8 And to , I have in I have . But , take the of your , I have .
9 And the Lord to , , ,
10 and , the Lord, things I you; , that I may it to you.
11 So to and to him, the Lord, what you will:
12 of , of your while the of your you, else of the of the Lord, on the , with the of the Lord throughout the of . I shall to him who me.
13 Then to , I am in . Let me into the of the Lord, his is , but do let me into the of .
14 So the Lord a on , and .
15 And the to to it, but as he was about to it, the Lord , and he the . And he to the who was , It is ; your . And the of the Lord was the of the .
16 And his and the of the Lord and , and in his a . Then and the , in , their .
17 And to , Was it I who to the ? It is I have and . But , have they ? let your , O Lord my , be against me and against my . But do let the be on your .
18 Now the of the Lord had to to should and an to the Lord on the of the .
19 So at , he had in the of the Lord.
20 Now was . and the , and his who were him themselves.
21 As to , and and the and to with his to the .
22 And to , me the of the that I may on it an to the Lord — it to me at its —that the may be the .
23 Then to , it, and let my the what seems . , I the for and the for the and the for a ; I it .
24 But to , , I will them for the . I will for the Lord is yours, nor that cost me .
25 So of by for the .
26 And there an to the Lord and and and on the Lord, and the Lord him with the of .
27 Then the Lord the , and he his into its .
28 At that , when the Lord had him at the of the , he .
29 For the of the Lord, had in the , and the of were at that in the at ,
30 but it to of , he was of the of the Lord.
People in this chapter — 10
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1 Chronicles 21Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 21. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David's numbering the people. (1-30).
vv1-30
No mention is made in this book of David's sin in the matter of Uriah, neither of the troubles that followed it: they had no needful connexion with the subjects here noted. But David's sin, in numbering the people, is related: in the atonement made for that sin, there was notice of the place on which the temple should be built. The command to David to build an altar, was a blessed token of reconciliation. God testified his acceptance of David's offerings on this altar. Thus Christ was made sin, and a curse for us; it pleased the Lord to bruise him, that through him, God might be to us, not a consuming Fire, but a reconciled God. It is good to continue attendance on those ordinances in which we have experienced the tokens of God's presence, and have found that he is with us of a truth. Here God graciously met me, therefore I will still expect to meet him.
Key Words
שָׂטָן: an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch-enemy of good
עָמַד: to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
סוּת: properly, to prick, i.e. (figuratively) stimulate; by implication, to seduce
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
מָנָה: properly, to weigh out; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
יוֹאָב: Joab, the name of three Israelites
שַׂר: a head person (of any rank or class)
Cross References
1 Chronicles 21The parallel account attributing the prompt to the Lord's anger, whereas Chronicles names Satan.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account of David's confession of sin and heart-smiting after the numbering.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Mosaic law requiring atonement money when numbering people to avoid a plague.
Supported by JFB
Identifies Ornan's threshingfloor as the location where Solomon would build the temple.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prophetic vision of Satan standing in accusation before the Lord, matching his posture here.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The divine law exempting the tribe of Levi from standard military census registration.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The parallel text offering the three options, with slight variation in famine duration.
Supported by JFB
Parallel text where David insists he will not offer burnt offerings to God without cost.
Parallel instance of God answering prayer by consuming the sacrifice with fire from heaven.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel text of David pleading for the sheep when seeing the angel of judgment.
Parallel sighting of the Angel of the Lord with a drawn sword in hand.
Confirms the tabernacle and brass altar remained at Gibeon during David's reign.
The massive numbers in the census demonstrate the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham.
Supported by JFB
Similar transaction where Abraham insists on paying full price to Ephron for burial land.
Details Solomon sacrificing at the high place in Gibeon before the temple was built.
David declares this altar site to be the future house of the Lord God.