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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D S A M U E L</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXIV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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The last words of David, which we read in the chapter before, were
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admirably good, but in this chapter we read of some of his last works,
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which were none of the best; yet he repented, and did his first works
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again, and so he finished well. We have here,
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I. His sin, which was numbering the people in the pride of his heart,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:1-9">ver. 1-9</A>.
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II. His conviction of the sin, and repentance for it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:10">ver. 10</A>.
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III. The judgment inflicted upon him for it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:11-15">ver. 11-15</A>.
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IV. The staying of the judgment,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:16,17">ver. 16, 17</A>.
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V. The erecting of an altar in token of God's reconciliation to him
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and his people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:18-25">ver. 18-25</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="2Sa24_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa24_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa24_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa24_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa24_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa24_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa24_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa24_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa24_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The People Numbered.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1017.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And again the anger of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> was kindled against Israel,
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and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and
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Judah.
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2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which
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<I>was</I> with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan
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even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the
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number of the people.
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3 And Joab said unto the king, Now the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God add unto
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the people, how many soever they be, a hundredfold, and that the
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eyes of my lord the king may see <I>it:</I> but why doth my lord the
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king delight in this thing?
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4 Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and
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against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of
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the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the
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people of Israel.
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5 And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the
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right side of the city that <I>lieth</I> in the midst of the river of
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Gad, and toward Jazer:
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6 Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi;
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and they came to Dan-jaan, and about to Zidon,
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7 And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of
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the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the
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south of Judah, <I>even</I> to Beer-sheba.
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8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to
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Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
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9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the
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king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men
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that drew the sword; and the men of Judah <I>were</I> five hundred
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thousand men.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. The orders which David gave to Joab to number the people of Israel
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and Judah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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Two things here seem strange:--
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1. The sinfulness of this. What harm was there in it? Did not Moses
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twice number the people without any crime? Does not political
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arithmetic come in among the other policies of a prince? Should not the
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shepherd know the number of his sheep? Does not the Son of David know
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all his own by name? Might not he make good use of this calculation?
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What evil has he done, if he do this? <I>Answer,</I> It is certain
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that it was a sin, and a great sin; but where the evil of it lay is not
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so certain.
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(1.) Some think the fault was that he numbered those that were under
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twenty years old if they were but of stature and strength able to bear
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arms, and that this was the reason why this account was not enrolled,
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because it was illegal,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+27:23,24">1 Chron. xxvii. 23, 24</A>.
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(2.) Others think the fault was that he did not require the
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half-shekel, which was to be paid for the service of the sanctuary
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whenever the people were numbered, as a <I>ransom for their souls,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+30:12">Exod. xxx. 12</A>.
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(3.) Others think that he did it with a design to impose a tribute upon
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them for himself, to be put into his treasury, and this by way of poll,
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so that when he knew their numbers he could tell what it would amount
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to. But nothing of this appears, nor was David ever a raiser of taxes.
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(4.) This was the fault, that he had no orders from God to do it, nor
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was there any occasion for the doing of it. It was a needless trouble
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both to himself and to his people.
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(5.) Some think that it was an affront to the ancient promise which God
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made to Abraham, that his seed should be innumerable as the dust of the
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earth; it savoured of distrust of that promise, or a design to show
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that it was not fulfilled in the letter of it. He would number those of
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whom God had said that they could not be numbered. Those know not what
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they do that go about to disprove the word of God.
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(6.) That which was the worst thing in numbering the people was that
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David did it in the pride of his heart, which was Hezekiah's sin in
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showing his treasures to the ambassadors.
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[1.] It was a proud conceit of his own greatness in having the command
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of so numerous a people, as if their increase, which was to be ascribed
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purely to the blessing of God, had been owing to any conduct of his
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own.
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[2.] It was a proud confidence in his own strength. By publishing
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among the nations the number of his people, he thought to appear the
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more formidable, and doubted not that, if he should have any war, he
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should overpower his enemies with the multitude of his forces, trusting
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in God only. God judges not of sin as we do. What appears to us
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harmless, or at least but a small offence, may be a great sin in the
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eye of God, who sees men's principles, and is a discerner of the
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thoughts and intents of the heart. But his judgment, we are sure, is
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according to truth.</P>
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<P>
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2. The spring from which it is here said to arise is yet more strange,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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It is not strange that <I>the anger of the Lord should be kindled
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against Israel.</I> There was cause enough for it. They were unthankful
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for the blessings of David's government, and strangely drawn in to take
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part with Absalom first and afterwards with Sheba. We have reason to
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think that their peace and plenty made them secure and sensual, and
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that God was therefore displeased with them. But that, in this
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displeasure, he should move David to number the people is very strange.
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We are sure that God is not the author of sin; he tempts no man: we are
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told
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+21:1">1 Chron. xxi. 1</A>)
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that <I>Satan provoked David to number Israel.</I> Satan, as an enemy,
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suggested it for a sin, as he put it into the heart of Judas to betray
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Christ. God, as righteous Judge, permitted it, with a design, from this
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sin of David, to take an occasion to punish Israel for other sins, for
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which he might justly have punished them without this. But, as before
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he brought a famine upon them for the sin of Saul, so now a pestilence
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for the sin of David, that princes may from these instances learn, when
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the judgments of God are abroad, to suspect that their sins are the
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ground of the controversy, and may therefore repent and reform
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themselves, which should have a great influence upon national
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repentance and reformation, and that people may learn to pray for those
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in authority, that God would keep them from sin, because, if they sin,
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the kingdom smarts.</P>
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<P>
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II. The opposition which Joab made to these orders. Even he was aware
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of David's folly and vain-glory in this design. He observed that David
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gave no reason for it, only, <I>Number the people, that I may know the
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number of the people;</I> and therefore he endeavored to divert his
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pride, and in a much more respectful manner than he had before
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endeavoured to divert his passion upon the death of Absalom; then he
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spoke rudely and insolently
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+19:5-7"><I>ch.</I> xix. 5-7</A>),
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but now as became him: <I>Now the Lord thy God add unto the people a
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hundred fold,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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There was no occasion to tax them, nor to enlist them, nor to make any
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distribution of them. They were all easy and happy; and Joab wished
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both that their number might increase and that the king, though old,
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might live to see their increase, and have the satisfaction of it.
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"<I>But why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?</I> What need
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is there of doing it?" <I>Pauperis est numerare pecus--Leave it to the
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poor to count their flocks.</I> Especially why should David, who speaks
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so much of delighting in God and the exercises of devotion, and who,
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being old, one would think, should have put away childish things, take
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a pleasure (so he calls it modestly, but he means taking pride) in a
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thing of this nature? Note, Many things, not in themselves sinful,
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turn into sin to us by our inordinately delighting in them. Joab was
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aware of David's vanity herein, but he himself was not. It would be
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good for us to have a friend that would faithfully admonish us when we
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say or do any thing proud or vain-glorious, for we often do so and are
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not ourselves aware of it.</P>
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<P>
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III. The orders executed notwithstanding. <I>The king's word
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prevailed,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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He would have it done; Joab must not gainsay it, lest he be thought to
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grudge his time and pains in the king's service. It is an unhappiness
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to great men to have those about them that will aid them and serve them
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in that which is evil. Joab, according to order, applied himself with
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some reluctancy to this unpleasing task, and took the captains of the
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host to help him. They began in the most distant places, in the east
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first, on the other side Jordan
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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then they went towards Dan in the north
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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so to Tyre on the east, and thence to Beer-sheba in the south,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Above nine months were spent in taking this account, a great deal of
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trouble and amazement were occasioned by it in the country
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
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and the sum total was, at length, brought to the king at Jerusalem,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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Whether the numbers answered David's expectation or no we are not told,
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nor whether the account fed his pride or mortified it. The people were
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very many, but, it may be, not so many as he thought they were. They
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had not increased in Canaan as they had in Egypt, nor were much more
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than double to what they were when they came into Canaan under Joshua,
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about 400 years before; yet it is an evidence that Canaan was a very
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fruitful land that so many thousands were maintained within so narrow a
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compass.</P>
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<A NAME="2Sa24_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa24_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa24_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa24_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa24_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa24_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa24_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa24_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Numbering of the People Punished.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1017.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>10 And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the
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people. And David said unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, I have sinned greatly in
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that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, take away the
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iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
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11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,
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12 Go and say unto David, Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, I offer thee
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three <I>things;</I> choose thee one of them, that I may <I>do it</I> unto
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thee.
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13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall
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seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou
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flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee?
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or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise,
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and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
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14 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall
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now into the hand of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; for his mercies <I>are</I> great: and
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let me not fall into the hand of man.
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15 So the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning
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even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan
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even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men.
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16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to
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destroy it, the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> repented him of the evil, and said to the
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angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine
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hand. And the angel of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> was by the threshingplace of
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Araunah the Jebusite.
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17 And David spake unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> when he saw the angel that
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smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done
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wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I
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pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here David repenting of the sin and yet punished for it, God
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repenting of the judgment and David thereby made more penitent.</P>
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<P>
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I. Here is David's penitent reflection upon and confession of his sin
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in numbering the people. While the thing was in doing, during all those
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nine months, we do not find that David was sensible of his sin, for had
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he been so he would have countermanded the orders he had given; but,
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when the account was finished and laid before him, that very night his
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conscience was awakened, and he felt the pain of it just then when he
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promised himself the pleasure of it. When he was about to feast on the
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satisfaction of the number of his people, it was turned into the gall
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of asps within him; sense of the sin cast a damp upon the joy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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1. He was convinced of his sin: <I>His heart smote him</I> before the
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prophet came to him (I think it should not be read <I>for,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>,
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but <I>and, when David was up,</I> so it is in the original), his
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conscience showed him the evil of what he had done; now that appeared
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sin, and exceedingly sinful, which before he saw no harm in. He
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reflected upon it with great regret and his heart reproached him for
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it. Note, It is a good thing, when a man has sinned, to have a heart
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within him to smite him for it; it is a good sign of a principle of
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grace in the heart, and a good step towards repentance and reformation.
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2. He confessed it to God and begged earnestly for the forgiveness of
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it.
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(1.) He owned that he had sinned, sinned greatly, though to others it
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might seem no sin at all, or a very little one. True penitents, whose
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consciences are tender and well informed, see that evil in sin which
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others do not see.
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(2.) He owned that he had <I>done foolishly, very foolishly,</I>
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because he had done it in the pride of his heart; and it was folly for
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him to be proud of the numbers of his people, when they were God's
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people, not his, and, as many as they were, God could soon make them
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fewer.
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(3.) He cried to God for pardon: <I>I beseech thee, O Lord! take away
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the iniquity of thy servant. If we confess our sins,</I> we may pray in
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faith that God <I>will forgive them,</I> and take away, by pardoning
|
|
mercy, that iniquity which we cast away by sincere repentance.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The just and necessary correction which he suffered for this sin.
|
|
David had been full of tossings to and fro all night under the sense of
|
|
his sin, having no rest in his bones because of it, <I>and he arose in
|
|
the morning</I> expecting to hear of God's displeasure against him for
|
|
what he had done, or designing to speak with Gad his seer concerning
|
|
it. Gad is called his <I>seer</I> because he had him always at hand to
|
|
advise with in the things of God, and made use of him as his confessor
|
|
and counsellor; but God prevented him, and directed the prophet Gad
|
|
what to say to him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
and,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Three things are taken for granted,
|
|
|
|
(1.) That David must be corrected for his fault. It is too great a
|
|
crime, and reflects too much dishonour upon God, to go unpunished, even
|
|
in David himself. Of the seven things that God hates, pride is the
|
|
first,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+6:17">Prov. vi. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, Those who truly repent of their sins, and have them pardoned are
|
|
yet often made to smart for them in this world.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The punishment must answer to the sin. He was proud of the
|
|
judgment he must be chastised with for this sin must be such as will
|
|
make them fewer. Note, What we make the matter of our pride it is just
|
|
with God to take from us, or embitter to us, and, some way or other, to
|
|
make the matter of our punishment.
|
|
|
|
(3.) It must be such a punishment as the people must have a large share
|
|
in, <I>for God's anger was kindled against Israel,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
Though it was David's sin that immediately opened the sluice, the sins
|
|
of the people all contributed to the deluge.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. As to the punishment that must be inflicted,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) David is told to choose what rod he will be beaten with,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:12,13"><I>v.</I> 12, 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
His heavenly Father must correct him, but, to show that he does not do
|
|
it willingly, he gives David leave to make choice whether it shall be
|
|
by war, famine, or pestilence, three sore judgments, which greatly
|
|
weaken and diminish a people. God, by putting him thus to his choice,
|
|
designed,
|
|
|
|
[1.] To humble him the more for his sin, which we would see to be
|
|
exceedingly sinful when he came to consider each of these judgments as
|
|
exceedingly dreadful. Or,
|
|
|
|
[2.] To upbraid him with the proud conceit he had of his own
|
|
sovereignty over Israel. He that is so great a prince begins to think
|
|
he may have what he will. "Come then," says God, "which wilt thou have
|
|
of these three things?" Compare
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:17">Jer. xxxiv. 17</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>I proclaim a liberty for you,</I> but it is such a liberty as this
|
|
of David's <I>to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine;</I>
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+15:2">Jer. xv. 2</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>Such as are for death to death.</I> Or
|
|
|
|
[3.] To give him some encouragement under the correction, letting him
|
|
know that God did not cast him out of communion with himself, but that
|
|
still his secret was with him, and in afflicting him he considered his
|
|
frame and what he could best bear. Or
|
|
|
|
[4.] That he might the more patiently bear the rod when it was a rod of
|
|
his own choosing. The prophet bids him advise with himself, and then
|
|
tell him what answer he should <I>return to him that sent him.</I>
|
|
Note, Ministers are sent of God to us, and they must give an account of
|
|
the success of their embassy. It concerns us therefore to consider what
|
|
answer they shall return from us, that they may give up their account
|
|
of us with joy.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) He objects only against the judgments of the sword, and, for the
|
|
other two, he refers the matter to God, but intimates his choice of the
|
|
pestilence rather
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>I am in a great strait;</I> and well he might be <I>when fear, and
|
|
the pit, and the snare, were before him,</I> and if he escape one, he
|
|
must inevitably fall into the other,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+48"43,44">Jer. xlviii. 43, 44</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, Sin brings men into straits; wise and good men often distress
|
|
themselves by their own folly.
|
|
|
|
[1.] He begs that he may <I>not fall into the hand of man.</I>
|
|
"Whatever comes, <I>let us not flee three months before our
|
|
enemies;</I>" this would sully all the glory of David's triumphs and
|
|
give occasion to the enemies of God and Israel to <I>behave themselves
|
|
proudly.</I> See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:26,27">Deut. xxxii. 26, 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
"Their tender mercies are cruel; and in three months they will do that
|
|
damage to the nation which many years will not repair." But,
|
|
|
|
[2.] He casts himself upon God: <I>Let us fall now into the hand of the
|
|
Lord, for his mercies are great.</I> Men are <I>God's hand</I> (so they
|
|
are called,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+17:14">Ps. xvii. 14</A>,
|
|
|
|
the sword of his sending), yet there are some judgments which come more
|
|
immediately from his hand than others, as famine and pestilence, and
|
|
David refers it to God which of these shall be the scourge, and God
|
|
chooses the shortest, that he may the sooner testify his being
|
|
reconciled. But some think that David, by these words, intimates his
|
|
choice of the pestilence. The land had not yet recovered the famine
|
|
under which it smarted three years upon the Gibeonites' account, and
|
|
therefore, "Let us not be corrected with that rod, for that also will
|
|
be the triumph of our neighbours," hence we read of <I>the reproach of
|
|
famine</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+36:30">Ezek. xxxvi. 30</A>);
|
|
|
|
"but if Israel must be diminished, let it be by the pestilence, for
|
|
that is <I>falling into the hands of the Lord,</I>" who usually
|
|
inflicted that judgment by the hand of his own immediate servants, the
|
|
angels, as in the death of the first-born of Egypt. That is a judgment
|
|
to which David himself, and his own family, lie as open as the meanest
|
|
subject, but not so either to famine or sword, and therefore David,
|
|
tenderly conscious of his guilt, chooses that. Sword and famine will
|
|
devour one as well as another, but, it may be thought, the destroying
|
|
angel will draw his sword against those who are known to God to be most
|
|
guilty. This will be of the shortest continuance, and he dreads the
|
|
thought of lying long under the tokens of God's displeasure. <I>It is a
|
|
dreadful thing,</I> the apostle says, <I>to fall into the hands of the
|
|
living God</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+10:31">Heb. x. 31</A>),
|
|
|
|
a fearful thing indeed for sinners that have, by their impenitency,
|
|
shut themselves out from all hope of his mercy. But David, a penitent,
|
|
dares cast himself into God's hand, knowing he shall find that <I>his
|
|
mercies are great.</I> Good men, even when they are under God's frowns,
|
|
yet will entertain no other than good thoughts of him. <I>Though he
|
|
slay me, yet will I trust in him.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) A pestilence is accordingly sent
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
which, for the extent of it, spread from Dan to Beer-sheba, from one end
|
|
of the kingdom to the other, which showed it to come immediately from
|
|
God's hand and not from any natural causes. David has his choice; he
|
|
suffers by miracle, and not by ordinary means. For the continuance of
|
|
it, it lasted from morning (this very morning on which it was put to
|
|
David's choice) to the time appointed that is, to the third day (so Mr.
|
|
Poole), or only to the evening of the first day, the time appointed for
|
|
the evening sacrifice, so bishop Patrick and others, who reckon that
|
|
the pestilence lasted but nine hours, and that, in compassion to David,
|
|
God shortened the time he had first mentioned. The execution the
|
|
pestilence did was very severe. <I>There died</I> 70,000 <I>men,</I>
|
|
that were all well, and sick, and dead, in a few hours. What a great
|
|
cry, may we suppose, was there now throughout all the land of Israel,
|
|
as there was in Egypt when the first-born were slain! but that was at
|
|
midnight, this in the daytime,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:6">Ps. xci. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
See the power of the angels, when God gives them commission, either to
|
|
save or to destroy. Joab is nine months in passing with his pen, the
|
|
angel but nine hours in passing with his sword, through all the coasts
|
|
and corners of the land of Israel. See how easily God can bring down
|
|
the proudest sinners, and how much we owe daily to the divine patience.
|
|
David's adultery is punished, for the present, only with the death of
|
|
one infant, his pride with the death of all those thousands, so much
|
|
does God hate pride. The number slain amounted to almost half a
|
|
decimation, 70,000 being about one in twenty. Now, we may suppose,
|
|
David's flesh <I>trembled for fear of God and he was afraid of his
|
|
judgments,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:120">Ps. cxix. 120</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. God's gracious relaxation of the judgment, when it began to be
|
|
inflicted upon Jerusalem
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem,</I> as if he
|
|
intended to do greater execution there than any where else, even <I>to
|
|
destroy it.</I> The country had drunk of the bitter cup, but Jerusalem
|
|
must drink the dregs. It should seem that was last numbered, and
|
|
therefore was reserved to be last plagued; perhaps there was more
|
|
wickedness, especially more pride (and that was the sin now chastised),
|
|
in Jerusalem than elsewhere, therefore the hand of the destroyer is
|
|
stretched out upon that; but then <I>the Lord repented him of the
|
|
evil,</I> changed not his mind, but his way; and said to the destroying
|
|
angel, <I>It is enough; stay now thy hand,</I> and <I>let mercy rejoice
|
|
against judgment.</I> Jerusalem shall be spared for the ark's sake, for
|
|
it is the place God hath chosen to put his name there. See here how
|
|
ready God is to forgive and how little pleasure he takes in punishing;
|
|
and let it encourage us to meet him by repentance in the way of his
|
|
judgments. This was on Mount Moriah. Dr. Lightfoot observes that in
|
|
the very place where Abraham, by a countermand from heaven, was stayed
|
|
from slaying his son, this angel, by a like countermand, was stayed
|
|
from destroying Jerusalem. It is for the sake of the great sacrifice
|
|
that our forfeited lives are preserved from the destroying angel.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. David's renewed repentance for his sin upon this occasion,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
He saw the angel (God opening his eyes for that purpose), saw his sword
|
|
stretched out to destroy, a flaming sword, saw him ready to sheath it
|
|
upon the orders given him to stay proceedings; seeing all this, he
|
|
spoke, not to the angel (he knew better than to address himself to the
|
|
servant in the presence of the Master, or to give that honour to the
|
|
creature which is the Creator's due), but <I>to the Lord, and said, Lo,
|
|
I have sinned.</I> Note, True penitents, the more they perceive of
|
|
God's sparing pardoning mercy the more humbled they are for sin and the
|
|
more resolved against it. They shall be ashamed <I>when I am pacified
|
|
towards them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+16:63">Ezek. xvi. 63</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe,
|
|
|
|
1. How he criminates himself, as if he could never speak ill enough of
|
|
his own fault: "<I>I have sinned, and I have done wickedly;</I> mine is
|
|
the crime, and therefore on me be the cross. <I>Let thy hand be
|
|
against me, and my father's house.</I> I am the sinner, let me be the
|
|
sufferer;" so willing was he to accept the punishment of his iniquity,
|
|
though he was worth 10,000 of them.
|
|
|
|
2. How he intercedes for the people, whose bitter lamentations made his
|
|
heart to ache, and his ears to tingle: <I>These sheep, what have they
|
|
done?</I> Done! Why they had done much amiss; it was their sin that
|
|
provoked God to leave David to himself to do as he did; yet, as becomes
|
|
a penitent, he is severe upon his own faults, while he extenuates
|
|
theirs. Most people, when God's judgments are abroad, charge others
|
|
with being the cause of them, and care not who falls by them, so they
|
|
can escape. But David's penitent and public spirit was otherwise
|
|
affected. Let this remind us of the grace of our Lord Jesus, who gave
|
|
himself for our sins and was willing that God's hand should be against
|
|
him, that we might escape. The shepherd was smitten that the sheep
|
|
might be spared.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="2Sa24_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Sa24_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Sa24_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Sa24_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Sa24_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Sa24_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Sa24_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Sa24_25"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Plague Removed.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1017.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>18 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up,
|
|
rear an altar unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> in the threshingfloor of Araunah the
|
|
Jebusite.
|
|
19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded.
|
|
20 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.
|
|
21 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, that the plague may be stayed from
|
|
the people.
|
|
22 And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and
|
|
offer up what <I>seemeth</I> good unto him: behold, <I>here be</I> oxen for
|
|
burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and <I>other</I>
|
|
instruments of the oxen for wood.
|
|
23 All these <I>things</I> did Araunah, <I>as</I> a king, give unto the
|
|
king. And Araunah said unto the king, The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God accept
|
|
thee.
|
|
24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy
|
|
<I>it</I> of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings
|
|
unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David
|
|
bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of
|
|
silver.
|
|
25 And David built there an altar unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and offered
|
|
burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> was intreated
|
|
for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
I. A command sent to David to erect an altar in the place where he saw
|
|
the angel,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
This was to intimate to David,
|
|
|
|
1. That, upon his repeated submission and humiliation, God was now
|
|
thoroughly reconciled to him; <I>for, if the Lord had been pleased to
|
|
kill him, he would not have accepted an offering,</I> and therefore
|
|
would not have ordered him to <I>build an altar.</I> God's encouraging
|
|
us to offer to him spiritual sacrifices is a comfortable evidence of
|
|
his reconciling us to himself.
|
|
|
|
2. That peace is made between God and sinners by sacrifice, and not
|
|
otherwise, even by Christ the great propitiation, of whom all the legal
|
|
sacrifices were types. It is for his sake that the destroying angel is
|
|
told to stay his hand.
|
|
|
|
3. That when God's judgments are graciously stayed we ought to
|
|
acknowledge it with thankfulness to his praise. This altar was to be
|
|
for thank-offerings. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+12:1">Isa. xii. 1</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The purchase which David made of the ground in order hereunto. It
|
|
seems the owner was a Jebusite, Araunah by name, proselyted no doubt to
|
|
the Jewish religion, though by birth a Gentile, and therefore allowed,
|
|
not only to dwell among the Israelites, but to have a possession of his
|
|
own in a city,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+25:29,30">Lev. xxv. 29, 30</A>.
|
|
|
|
The piece of ground was a threshing-floor, a mean place, <I>yet</I>
|
|
thus dignified--a place of labour, <I>therefore</I> thus dignified.
|
|
Now,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. David went in person to the owner, to treat with him. See his
|
|
justice, that he would not so much as use this place in the present
|
|
exigence, though the proprietor was an alien, though he himself was a
|
|
king, and though he had express orders from God to rear an altar there,
|
|
till he had bought it and paid for it. God <I>hates robbery for
|
|
burnt-offering.</I> See his humility, how far he was from taking state;
|
|
though a king, he was now a penitent, and therefore, in token of his
|
|
self-abasement, he neither sent for Araunah to come to him nor sent
|
|
another to deal with him, but went himself
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
and, though it looked like a diminution of himself, he lost no honour
|
|
by it. Araunah, when he saw him, went and <I>bowed himself to the
|
|
ground before him</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
Great men will never be the less respected for their humility, but the
|
|
more.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Araunah, when he understood his business
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
generously offered him, not only the ground to build his altar on, but
|
|
<I>oxen for sacrifices,</I> and other things that might be of use to
|
|
him in the service
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>),
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and all this <I>gratis,</I> and a good prayer into the bargain: <I>The
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Lord thy God accept thee!</I> This he did,
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(1.) Because he had a generous spirit with a great estate. <I>He gave
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as a king</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>);
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though an ordinary subject, he had the spirit of a prince. In the
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Hebrew it is, <I>He gave, even the king to the king,</I> whence it is
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supposed that Araunah had been king of the Jebusites in that place, or
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was descended from their royal family, though now a tributary to David.
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(2.) Because he highly esteemed David, though his conqueror, upon the
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score of his personal merits, and never thought he could do too much to
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oblige him.
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(3.) Because he had an affection for Israel, and earnestly desired that
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<I>the plague might be stayed;</I> and the honour of its being stayed
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at <I>his threshing-floor,</I> he would account a valuable
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consideration for all he now tendered to David.
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3. David resolved to pay the full value of it, and did so,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
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Here were two generous souls well met. Araunah is very willing to give;
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but David is determined to buy, and for a good reason: he will not
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offer that to God which costs him nothing. He would not take advantage
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of the pious Jebusite's generosity. He thanked him, no doubt, for his
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kind offer, but paid him <I>fifty shekels of silver</I> for the floor
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and the oxen for the present service, and afterwards 600 shekels of
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gold for the ground adjoining, to build the temple on. Note, Those know
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not what religion is whose chief care it is to make it cheap and easy
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to themselves, and who are best pleased with that which costs them
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least pains or money. What have we our substance for but to honour God
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with it? and how can it be better bestowed?</P>
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<P>
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III. The building of the altar, and the offering of the proper
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sacrifices upon it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>),
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burnt-offerings to the glory of God's justice in the execution that had
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been done, and peace-offerings to the glory of his mercy in the
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seasonable staying of the process. Hereupon God showed (it is supposed
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by fire from heaven consuming the sacrifices) that <I>he was entreated
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for the land,</I> and that it was in mercy that the plague was removed
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and in token of God's being reconciled both to prince and people.
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Christ is our altar, our sacrifice; in him alone we may expect to find
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favour with God, to escape his wrath, and the sword, the flaming sword,
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of the cherubim who <I>keep the way of the tree of life.</I></P>
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