King James Version
2 Samuel 24
25 verses with commentary
David's Census
And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than dependence on God. The plague's devastation demonstrates sin's consequences extendin...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(1) **Kindled against Israel.**—This was not in consequence of the numbering of the people, but in consequence of that which ultimately led to that act. We are not told why the anger of the Lord was kindled, but doubtless because He saw both in king and people that rising spirit of earthly pride and reliance on earthly strength which led to the sin.
**He moved.**—The pronoun here stands for “the L...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**10. Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel--**These emissaries were to sound the inclination of the people, to further the interests of Absalom, and exhort all the adherents of his party to be in readiness to join his standard as soon as they should hear that he had been proclaimed king. As the summons was to be made by the sound of trumpets, it is probable that care had been tak...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 24
Chapter Outline
David spares Saul's life.(1-7)
David shows his innocence.(8-15)
Saul acknowledges his fault.(16-22)
**Verses 1-7**
God delivered Saul into David's hand. It was an opportunity given to David to exercise faith and patience. He had a promise of the kingdom, but no command to slay the king. He reasons strongly, both with himself and with his men, agains...
Read full commentary →For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people. Go: or, Compass
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than depe...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**11. with Absalom went two hundred men ... that were called--**From their quality, reputation, and high standing, such as would create the impression that the king patronized the movement and, being aged and infirm, was willing to adopt his oldest and noblest son to divide with him the cares and honors of government.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 24
Chapter Outline
David spares Saul's life.(1-7)
David shows his innocence.(8-15)
Saul acknowledges his fault.(16-22)
**Verses 1-7**
God delivered Saul into David's hand. It was an opportunity given to David to exercise faith and patience. He had a promise of the kingdom, but no command to slay the king. He reasons strongly, both with himself and with his men, agains...
Read full commentary →And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold , and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather tha...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) **Why doth my lord?**—Even in the eyes of the unscrupulous Joab David’s act was abominable. Joab never gives evidence of being influenced by religious motives, but his natural shrewdness sufficed to show him that David’s act was at variance with the fundamental principle of the national existence. Chronicles adds to Joab’s words, “Why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?” The strong objec...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**12. Absalom sent for Ahithophel--**who he knew was ready to join the revolt, through disgust and revenge, as Jewish writers assert, at David's conduct towards Bath-sheba, who was his granddaughter.
**Giloh--**near Hebron.
**the conspiracy was strong--**The rapid accession of one place after another in all parts of the kingdom to the party of the insurgents, shows that deep and general dissat...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 24
Chapter Outline
David spares Saul's life.(1-7)
David shows his innocence.(8-15)
Saul acknowledges his fault.(16-22)
**Verses 1-7**
God delivered Saul into David's hand. It was an opportunity given to David to exercise faith and patience. He had a promise of the kingdom, but no command to slay the king. He reasons strongly, both with himself and with his men, agains...
Read full commentary →Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than dependenc...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 24
Chapter Outline
David spares Saul's life.(1-7)
David shows his innocence.(8-15)
Saul acknowledges his fault.(16-22)
**Verses 1-7**
God delivered Saul into David's hand. It was an opportunity given to David to exercise faith and patience. He had a promise of the kingdom, but no command to slay the king. He reasons strongly, both with himself and with his men, agains...
Read full commentary →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: river: or, valley
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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:</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than dependence on God. The plague's devastation demonstrates sin's conseq...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) **Pitched in Aroer.**—The census began on the east of Jordan, at the extreme south, thence passed northwards through the eastern tribes, and crossing the Jordan, passed southwards through the western tribes. Aroer is the city described in Deuteronomy 2:36; Joshua 13:16 as on the river Arnon, at the extreme southern border of the trans-Jordanie territory.
**Of Gad.**—This follows the Masoretic ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**14. David said ... Arise, and let us flee--**David, anxious for the preservation of the city which he had beautified, and hopeful of a greater support throughout the country, wisely resolved on leaving Jerusalem.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 24
Chapter Outline
David spares Saul's life.(1-7)
David shows his innocence.(8-15)
Saul acknowledges his fault.(16-22)
**Verses 1-7**
God delivered Saul into David's hand. It was an opportunity given to David to exercise faith and patience. He had a promise of the kingdom, but no command to slay the king. He reasons strongly, both with himself and with his men, agains...
Read full commentary →Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon, land of Tahtimhodshi: or, nether land newly inhabited
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan, and about to Zidon,</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than dependence on God. The plague's devastation demonstrates sin's consequences extending beyond the sinner. D...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(6) **Land of Tahtim-hodshi.—**This unknown and strange name, of which the ancient versions make nothing, is generally considered as a corruption. The most probable conjecture is that for “Tahtim” we should read “Hittites” (a change of only a single letter), and that “Hodshi” is the remnant of an expression designating the month of their arrival there.
**Dan-jaan.**—This is the only place in which...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 24
Chapter Outline
David spares Saul's life.(1-7)
David shows his innocence.(8-15)
Saul acknowledges his fault.(16-22)
**Verses 1-7**
God delivered Saul into David's hand. It was an opportunity given to David to exercise faith and patience. He had a promise of the kingdom, but no command to slay the king. He reasons strongly, both with himself and with his men, agains...
Read full commentary →And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beer-sheba.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than dependence on God. The plague's devastation demonstrat...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) **Of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites.**—The remnants of the original inhabitants appear still to have occupied distinct towns by themselves. The “Hivites” were chiefly in the northern part of the land, though Gibeon and its towns had belonged to them. “The Canaanites” is a general name for the remnants of all the other races.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 24
Chapter Outline
David spares Saul's life.(1-7)
David shows his innocence.(8-15)
Saul acknowledges his fault.(16-22)
**Verses 1-7**
God delivered Saul into David's hand. It was an opportunity given to David to exercise faith and patience. He had a promise of the kingdom, but no command to slay the king. He reasons strongly, both with himself and with his men, agains...
Read full commentary →So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
View commentary (2 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than dependence on God. The plague's devastation demonstrates sin's consequences extending beyond the sinner...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 8-15**
David was falsely charged with seeking Saul's hurt; he shows Saul that God's providence had given him opportunity to do it. And it was upon a good principle that he refused to do it. He declares his fixed resolution never to be his own avenger. If men wrong us, God will right us, at farthest, in the judgment of the great day.
And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than dependence ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(9) **In Israel eight hundred thousand.**—The numbers here differ greatly from those given in 1Chronicles 21:5-6; but there is no reason to suppose any corruption of the text in either case. Joab undertook the work unwillingly, and performed it imperfectly. According to 1Chronicles 21:6 he refused altogether to number Levi and Benjamin; and according to 1Chronicles 27:24 “he finished not,” and no ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**18-20. all the Gittites, six hundred men--**These were a body of foreign guards, natives of Gath, whom David, when in the country of the Philistines, had enlisted in his service, and kept around his person. Addressing their commander, Ittai, he made a searching trial of their fidelity in bidding them (2Sa 15:19) abide with the new king.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 8-15**
David was falsely charged with seeking Saul's hurt; he shows Saul that God's providence had given him opportunity to do it. And it was upon a good principle that he refused to do it. He declares his fixed resolution never to be his own avenger. If men wrong us, God will right us, at farthest, in the judgment of the great day.
Judgment for the Census
And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prid...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(10) **David’s heart smote him.**—This time David’s own conscience was awakened, without the necessity of being roused, as in the case of Uriah, by the visit of a prophet. He confesses his sin, and prays for pardon. Still it must be remembered that ten months had passed (2Samuel 24:8) before David saw his sin.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**18-20. all the Gittites, six hundred men--**These were a body of foreign guards, natives of Gath, whom David, when in the country of the Philistines, had enlisted in his service, and kept around his person. Addressing their commander, Ittai, he made a searching trial of their fidelity in bidding them (2Sa 15:19) abide with the new king.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 8-15**
David was falsely charged with seeking Saul's hurt; he shows Saul that God's providence had given him opportunity to do it. And it was upon a good principle that he refused to do it. He declares his fixed resolution never to be his own avenger. If men wrong us, God will right us, at farthest, in the judgment of the great day.
For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than dependence on God. The plague's devastation demonstrates sin's consequences extending beyond the sinner. ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(1l) **For when David.**—Read, *and when. *There is no suggestion in the original, as seems to be implied in the English, that David’s repentance was in consequence of the visit of Gad; on the contrary, it was in consequence of his repentance and confession that the prophet was sent to him.
**The prophet Gad.**—This prophet has not been mentioned since his warning to David to return from the land ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**18-20. all the Gittites, six hundred men--**These were a body of foreign guards, natives of Gath, whom David, when in the country of the Philistines, had enlisted in his service, and kept around his person. Addressing their commander, Ittai, he made a searching trial of their fidelity in bidding them (2Sa 15:19) abide with the new king.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 8-15**
David was falsely charged with seeking Saul's hurt; he shows Saul that God's providence had given him opportunity to do it. And it was upon a good principle that he refused to do it. He declares his fixed resolution never to be his own avenger. If men wrong us, God will right us, at farthest, in the judgment of the great day.
Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
View commentary (2 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than dependence on God. The plague's devastation demonstrates sin's consequences extending bey...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 8-15**
David was falsely charged with seeking Saul's hurt; he shows Saul that God's providence had given him opportunity to do it. And it was upon a good principle that he refused to do it. He declares his fixed resolution never to be his own avenger. If men wrong us, God will right us, at farthest, in the judgment of the great day.
So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, empha...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(13) **Seven years.**—In Chronicles “three years,” and so the LXX. reads here also. This would be more in accordance with the “three” months and “three” days.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 8-15**
David was falsely charged with seeking Saul's hurt; he shows Saul that God's providence had given him opportunity to do it. And it was upon a good principle that he refused to do it. He declares his fixed resolution never to be his own avenger. If men wrong us, God will right us, at farthest, in the judgment of the great day.
And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man. are great: or, are many
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than dependence on God. The plague's devastation demonstr...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(14) **Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord.** Here the spirit of David in his earlier years reappears; he chooses that form of punishment which seems to him most directly and immediately dependent upon God Himself. He places himself in His hands rather than suffer those other punishments in which the will of man seemed to have a greater share. And it may be noticed also that he chooses that ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**23. the brook Kidron--**a winter torrent that flows through the valley between the city and the eastern side of the Mount of Olives.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 8-15**
David was falsely charged with seeking Saul's hurt; he shows Saul that God's providence had given him opportunity to do it. And it was upon a good principle that he refused to do it. He declares his fixed resolution never to be his own avenger. If men wrong us, God will right us, at farthest, in the judgment of the great day.
So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than dependence on God. The plague's devastation dem...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(15) **The time appointed.**—Much difficulty has been found with this expression; but, if the Hebrew can bear this meaning, it may be understood well enough of the time (somewhat less than three days, 2Samuel 24:16)*, *which God in His good pleasure determined. The Hebrew, however, probably means “time of assembly,” which is generally understood to signify the time of the evening sacrifice; so the...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**24-25. Zadok also, and all the Levites ..., bearing the ark--**Knowing the strong religious feelings of the aged king, they brought it to accompany him in his distress. But as he could not doubt that both the ark and their sacred office would exempt them from the attacks of the rebels, he sent them back with it--not only that they might not be exposed to the perils of uncertain wandering, for he...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 8-15**
David was falsely charged with seeking Saul's hurt; he shows Saul that God's providence had given him opportunity to do it. And it was upon a good principle that he refused to do it. He declares his fixed resolution never to be his own avenger. If men wrong us, God will right us, at farthest, in the judgment of the great day.
And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David'...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**24-25. Zadok also, and all the Levites ..., bearing the ark--**Knowing the strong religious feelings of the aged king, they brought it to accompany him in his distress. But as he could not doubt that both the ark and their sacred office would exempt them from the attacks of the rebels, he sent them back with it--not only that they might not be exposed to the perils of uncertain wandering, for he...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 16-22**
Saul speaks as quite overcome with David's kindness. Many mourn for their sins, who do not truly repent of them; weep bitterly for them, yet continue in love and in league with them. Now God made good to David that word on which he had caused him to hope, that he would bring forth his righteousness as the light, Psa 37:6. Those who take care to keep a good conscience, may leav...
Read full commentary →And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.
View commentary (2 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents pride...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 16-22**
Saul speaks as quite overcome with David's kindness. Many mourn for their sins, who do not truly repent of them; weep bitterly for them, yet continue in love and in league with them. Now God made good to David that word on which he had caused him to hope, that he would bring forth his righteousness as the light, Psa 37:6. Those who take care to keep a good conscience, may leav...
Read full commentary →David Builds an Altar
And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite. Araunah: Heb. Araniah
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than dependence on God. The plague's devastation demonstrates sin's consequences exte...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(18) **Gad came.**—As appears from 1Chronicles 21:18, by direction of the angel. Daniel was still in Jerusalem proper, *i.e., *the hill of Zion, and it was looking out from thence that he had seen the angel “by the threshing-floor of Araunah,” i.e., on the lower hill of Mount Moriah, which afterwards became the site of the Temple, and was included within the city. It was doubtless this event that ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 16-22**
Saul speaks as quite overcome with David's kindness. Many mourn for their sins, who do not truly repent of them; weep bitterly for them, yet continue in love and in league with them. Now God made good to David that word on which he had caused him to hope, that he would bring forth his righteousness as the light, Psa 37:6. Those who take care to keep a good conscience, may leav...
Read full commentary →And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded.
View commentary (2 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than dependence on God. The plague's devastation demonstrates sin's consequences extending beyond the sinner. David's purchase of Araunah's thre...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 16-22**
Saul speaks as quite overcome with David's kindness. Many mourn for their sins, who do not truly repent of them; weep bitterly for them, yet continue in love and in league with them. Now God made good to David that word on which he had caused him to hope, that he would bring forth his righteousness as the light, Psa 37:6. Those who take care to keep a good conscience, may leav...
Read full commentary →And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than dependence on God. The plague's devastation demonstr...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(20) **Saw the king.**—Not *the angel, *as in Chronicles, the words in Hebrew being much alike.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 16-22**
Saul speaks as quite overcome with David's kindness. Many mourn for their sins, who do not truly repent of them; weep bitterly for them, yet continue in love and in league with them. Now God made good to David that word on which he had caused him to hope, that he would bring forth his righteousness as the light, Psa 37:6. Those who take care to keep a good conscience, may leav...
Read full commentary →And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than dependence on...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**30. David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet--**The same pathway over that mount has been followed ever since that memorable day.
**had his head covered--**with a mourning wrapper. The humility and resignation of David marked strongly his sanctified spirit, induced by contrition for his transgressions. He had fallen, but it was the fall of the upright; and he rose again, submitting himself ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 16-22**
Saul speaks as quite overcome with David's kindness. Many mourn for their sins, who do not truly repent of them; weep bitterly for them, yet continue in love and in league with them. Now God made good to David that word on which he had caused him to hope, that he would bring forth his righteousness as the light, Psa 37:6. Those who take care to keep a good conscience, may leav...
Read full commentary →And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than depen...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(22) **And Araunah said.**—Araunah, having heard David’s errand, has not a moment’s hesitation. That his threshing-floor is to be turned into the place of an altar, he at once considers as settled; but he would have preferred to make it a gift.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**31. David said, Turn, O Lord, ... the counsel of Ahithophel--**this senator being the mainstay of the conspiracy.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 16-22**
Saul speaks as quite overcome with David's kindness. Many mourn for their sins, who do not truly repent of them; weep bitterly for them, yet continue in love and in league with them. Now God made good to David that word on which he had caused him to hope, that he would bring forth his righteousness as the light, Psa 37:6. Those who take care to keep a good conscience, may leav...
Read full commentary →All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than dependence on God. The plague's devastation demonstrates sin's consequences extending beyo...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(23) **All these things did Araunah.**—This clause should be rendered as a part of Araunah’s address to David: “The whole, O king, does Araunah give unto the king.” (Comp. 1Chronicles 21:23.) Then, after a moment’s pause, he added, “The LORD thy God accept thee.” The first word *king, *however, is omitted in some MSS., and in the LXX., Vulg., and Syr. The word “give,” of course, means only *offer....
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**32. when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped--**looking towards Jerusalem, where were the ark and tabernacle.
**Hushai the Archite--**A native of Archi, on the frontiers of Benjamin and Ephraim (Jos 16:2). Comparing the prayer against Ahithophel with the counsel to Hushai, we see how strongly a spirit of fervent piety was combined in his character with the devices of an...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 24
Chapter Outline
David spares Saul's life.(1-7)
David shows his innocence.(8-15)
Saul acknowledges his fault.(16-22)
**Verses 1-7**
God delivered Saul into David's hand. It was an opportunity given to David to exercise faith and patience. He had a promise of the kingdom, but no command to slay the king. He reasons strongly, both with himself and with his men, agains...
Read full commentary →And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census repres...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(24) **Of that which cost me nothing.**—The principle on which David acted is that which essentially underlies all true sacrifice and all real giving to God.
**For fifty shekels of silver.**—This sum is expressly said to cover the cost both of the ground and of the oxen, and seems very small. In 1Chronicles 21:25, it reads “six hundred shekels of gold by weight.” One of the most ingenious proposit...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 24
Chapter Outline
David spares Saul's life.(1-7)
David shows his innocence.(8-15)
Saul acknowledges his fault.(16-22)
**Verses 1-7**
God delivered Saul into David's hand. It was an opportunity given to David to exercise faith and patience. He had a promise of the kingdom, but no command to slay the king. He reasons strongly, both with himself and with his men, agains...
Read full commentary →And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.</strong><br><br>This verse contributes to the narrative of Census and Plague, emphasizing pride, judgment, provision. David's census represents prideful self-reliance rather than dependence on God. The plague's devasta...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(25) **Built there an altar.**—The parallel place in Chronicles states that the tabernacle “and the altar of burnt offering were at that season in the high place at Gibeon,” and that David was afraid to go before it “because of the sword of the angel,” *i.e., *the pestilence. It also mentions that when David “offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD,” “He answered him ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 24
Chapter Outline
David spares Saul's life.(1-7)
David shows his innocence.(8-15)
Saul acknowledges his fault.(16-22)
**Verses 1-7**
God delivered Saul into David's hand. It was an opportunity given to David to exercise faith and patience. He had a promise of the kingdom, but no command to slay the king. He reasons strongly, both with himself and with his men, agains...
Read full commentary →