Bible Commentaries
2 Samuel 24

Verse 1

And again. The history in this chapter precedes 2 Samuel 23:0 , by Figure of speech Hysterologia ( App-6 ). See note on 23. i. the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . He moved-He suffered him to be moved. By He-brew idiom (and also by modern usage) a person is said to do that which he permits to be done. Here we have the historical fact. In 1 Chronicles 21:1 we have the real fact from the Divine standpoint. Here the exoteric, in 1 Chronicles 21:1 the esoteric. For examples, see Exodus 4:21 ; Exodus 5:22 .Jeremiah 4:10 . Ezekiel 14:9 ; Ezekiel 20:25 .Matthew 11:25 ; Matthew 13:11 .Romans 9:18 ; Romans 11:7 , Romans 11:8 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:11 . God's permission, but Satan's suggestion (James 1:13 , James 1:14 ); or, yasath may be taken impersonally, "David was moved".

Verse 3

God . Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

Verse 5

right side : i.e. the south side, facing east.

river of Gad = the river valley belonging to Gad, which was the Jabbok.

Verse 6

Tahtim-hodshi . Site unknown. If translated = the lower parts of the country where the new moon was worshipped. Like Beth-shemesh = House of the Sun.

Dan-jaan = Dan in the wood, perhaps Laish-Dan (Joshua 19:47 . Judges 18:29 ). = passed round.

Verse 7

strong hold. Compare Joshua 19:29 .

went out . Some codices read "came [in]".

south = the Negeb. Some codices read "land". See note on Genesis 13:1 .

Verse 8

nine mouths , &c. The long time implies a period of great peace.

Verse 9

Israel = 800,000 "valiant men". Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Judah = 500,000 "men". Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 . [Compare 1 Chronicles 21:5 , a different classification. Israel = 1,100,000, "all they of Israel that drew sword": i.e. all adults, not necessarily "valiant". Judah = 470,000 "men that drew sword"; not all the "men "by 30,000. ]

Verse 10

I have sinned . Probably conviction of pride or other sinful motive. Hebrew. hatah. App-44 .

take away = cause to pass over. See 2 Samuel 12:13

iniquity . See App-44 .

Verse 11

For = And.

was = rose.

Gad . Compare 1 Samuel 9:9 . Gad last mentioned, 1 Samuel 22:5 . Probably inspired to write this history.

Verse 12

I offer thee = I impose on thee (Hebrew. natal). A choice out of God's four sore judgments (Ezekiel 14:21 ).

Verse 13

seven years , 1 Chronicles 21:12 -three years; also Septuagint. The Hebrew numeral letters for three and seven were probably very much alike. Hence perhaps mistaken by an ancient scribe. Both maybe right = "seven, or even three. "

advise = consider, or know.

Verse 14

mercies = compassions.

great = manifold.

man . Hebrew. 'adatn . App-14 .

Verse 15

time appointed . Septuagint and Syriac say the plague lasted only till noon. So this "time" may mean for the evening sacrifice, 3pm (Compare 2 Samuel 24:18 ).

Verse 16

repented . Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . evil. Hebrew. ra ` a `. App-44 .

Araunah the Jebusite . Perhaps spared in the taking of Jebus. See note on 2 Samuel 5:8 .

Verse 17

Lo . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

wickedly . Hebrew. `avah. App-44 .

Verse 19

as = according as.

Verse 20

looked = looked down.

coming on = crossing over.

Verse 22

burnt sacrifice . See App-43 .

Verse 24

offer . See App-43 .

the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver . Hebrew. goren (Ruth 3:2 ), mentioned in verses: 2 Samuel 24:16 , 2 Samuel 24:18 , 2 Samuel 16:21 . Not the "place", Hebrew. makom , of 1 Chronicles 21:25 (Ruth 4:10 ), which was afterward the Temple area, about eight acres, and for which David gave the much larger sum of 600 shekels of gold. Two separate purchases effected, the one here was hurried, as an earnest, and the other was made later.

shekels. See App-51 .

Verse 25

there . See note on 1 Chronicles 22:1 .