mh_parser/vol_split/10 - 2Samuel/Chapter 24.xml

<div2 id="iiSam.xxv" n="xxv" next="iKi" prev="iiSam.xxiv" progress="50.13%" title="Chapter XXIV">
<h2 id="iiSam.xxv-p0.1">S E C O N D   S A M U E L</h2>
<h3 id="iiSam.xxv-p0.2">CHAP. XXIV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiSam.xxv-p1">The last words of David, which we read in the
chapter before, were admirably good, but in this chapter we read of
some of his last works, which were none of the best; yet he
repented, and did his first works again, and so he finished well.
We have here, I. His sin, which was numbering the people in the
pride of his heart, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.1-2Sam.24.9" parsed="|2Sam|24|1|24|9" passage="2Sa 24:1-9">ver.
1-9</scripRef>. II. His conviction of the sin, and repentance for
it, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.10" parsed="|2Sam|24|10|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:10">ver. 10</scripRef>. III. The
judgment inflicted upon him for it, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.11-2Sam.24.15" parsed="|2Sam|24|11|24|15" passage="2Sa 24:11-15">ver. 11-15</scripRef>. IV. The staying of the
judgment, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.16-2Sam.24.17" parsed="|2Sam|24|16|24|17" passage="2Sa 24:16,17">ver. 16, 17</scripRef>.
V. The erecting of an altar in token of God's reconciliation to him
and his people, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.18-2Sam.24.25" parsed="|2Sam|24|18|24|25" passage="2Sa 24:18-25">ver.
18-25</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iiSam.xxv-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24" parsed="|2Sam|24|0|0|0" passage="2Sa 24" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiSam.xxv-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.1-2Sam.24.9" parsed="|2Sam|24|1|24|9" passage="2Sa 24:1-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Sam.24.1-2Sam.24.9">
<h4 id="iiSam.xxv-p1.8">The People Numbered. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p1.9">b. c.</span> 1017.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiSam.xxv-p2">1 And again the anger of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p2.1">Lord</span> was kindled against Israel, and he moved
David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.   2
For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which <i>was</i>
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.   3 And Joab said unto the king, Now the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p2.2">Lord</span> thy God add unto the people, how many
soever they be, a hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the
king may see <i>it:</i> but why doth my lord the king delight in
this thing?   4 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.   5 And they passed over Jordan,
and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that
<i>lieth</i> in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:
  6 Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of
Tahtim-hodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan, and about to Zidon,
  7 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, <i>even</i> to Beer-sheba.   8 So when they
had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of
nine months and twenty days.   9 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 <i>were</i> five hundred thousand men.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p3">Here we have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p4">I. The orders which David gave to Joab to
number the people of Israel and Judah, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.1-2Sam.24.2" parsed="|2Sam|24|1|24|2" passage="2Sa 24:1,2"><i>v.</i> 1, 2</scripRef>. Two things here seem
strange:—1. The sinfulness of this. What harm was there in it?
Did not Moses twice number the people without any crime? Does not
political arithmetic come in among the other policies of a prince?
Should not the shepherd know the number of his sheep? Does not the
Son of David know all his own by name? Might not he make good use
of this calculation? What evil has he done, if he do this?
<i>Answer,</i> It is certain that it was a sin, and a great sin;
but where the evil of it lay is not so certain. (1.) Some think the
fault was that he numbered those that were under twenty years old
if they were but of stature and strength able to bear arms, and
that this was the reason why this account was not enrolled, because
it was illegal, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.27.23-1Chr.27.24" parsed="|1Chr|27|23|27|24" passage="1Ch 27:23,24">1 Chron. xxvii.
23, 24</scripRef>. (2.) Others think the fault was that he did not
require the half-shekel, which was to be paid for the service of
the sanctuary whenever the people were numbered, as a <i>ransom for
their souls,</i> <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.12" parsed="|Exod|30|12|0|0" passage="Ex 30:12">Exod. xxx.
12</scripRef>. (3.) Others think that he did it with a design to
impose a tribute upon them for himself, to be put into his
treasury, and this by way of poll, so that when he knew their
numbers he could tell what it would amount to. But nothing of this
appears, nor was David ever a raiser of taxes. (4.) This was the
fault, that he had no orders from God to do it, nor was there any
occasion for the doing of it. It was a needless trouble both to
himself and to his people. (5.) Some think that it was an affront
to the ancient promise which God made to Abraham, that his seed
should be innumerable as the dust of the earth; it savoured of
distrust of that promise, or a design to show that it was not
fulfilled in the letter of it. He would number those of whom God
had said that they could not be numbered. Those know not what they
do that go about to disprove the word of God. (6.) That which was
the worst thing in numbering the people was that David did it in
the pride of his heart, which was Hezekiah's sin in showing his
treasures to the ambassadors. [1.] It was a proud conceit of his
own greatness in having the command of so numerous a people, as if
their increase, which was to be ascribed purely to the blessing of
God, had been owing to any conduct of his own. [2.] It was a proud
confidence in his own strength. By publishing among the nations the
number of his people, he thought to appear the more formidable, and
doubted not that, if he should have any war, he should overpower
his enemies with the multitude of his forces, trusting in God only.
God judges not of sin as we do. What appears to us harmless, or at
least but a small offence, may be a great sin in the eye of God,
who sees men's principles, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart. But his judgment, we are sure, is according
to truth.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p5">2. The spring from which it is here said to
arise is yet more strange, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.1" parsed="|2Sam|24|1|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>. It is not strange that <i>the anger of the Lord
should be kindled against Israel.</i> There was cause enough for
it. They were unthankful for the blessings of David's government,
and strangely drawn in to take part with Absalom first and
afterwards with Sheba. We have reason to think that their peace and
plenty made them secure and sensual, and that God was therefore
displeased with them. But that, in this displeasure, he should move
David to number the people is very strange. We are sure that God is
not the author of sin; he tempts no man: we are told (<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.21.1" parsed="|1Chr|21|1|0|0" passage="1Ch 21:1">1 Chron. xxi. 1</scripRef>) that <i>Satan
provoked David to number Israel.</i> Satan, as an enemy, suggested
it for a sin, as he put it into the heart of Judas to betray
Christ. God, as righteous Judge, permitted it, with a design, from
this sin of David, to take an occasion to punish Israel for other
sins, for which he might justly have punished them without this.
But, as before he brought a famine upon them for the sin of Saul,
so now a pestilence for the sin of David, that princes may from
these instances learn, when the judgments of God are abroad, to
suspect that their sins are the ground of the controversy, and may
therefore repent and reform themselves, which should have a great
influence upon national repentance and reformation, and that people
may learn to pray for those in authority, that God would keep them
from sin, because, if they sin, the kingdom smarts.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p6">II. The opposition which Joab made to these
orders. Even he was aware of David's folly and vain-glory in this
design. He observed that David gave no reason for it, only,
<i>Number the people, that I may know the number of the people;</i>
and therefore he endeavored to divert his pride, and in a much more
respectful manner than he had before endeavoured to divert his
passion upon the death of Absalom; then he spoke rudely and
insolently (<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.19.5-2Sam.19.7" parsed="|2Sam|19|5|19|7" passage="2Sa 19:5-7"><i>ch.</i> xix.
5-7</scripRef>), but now as became him: <i>Now the Lord thy God add
unto the people a hundred fold,</i> <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.3" parsed="|2Sam|24|3|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. There was no occasion to tax
them, nor to enlist them, nor to make any distribution of them.
They were all easy and happy; and Joab wished both that their
number might increase and that the king, though old, might live to
see their increase, and have the satisfaction of it. "<i>But why
doth my lord the king delight in this thing?</i> What need is there
of doing it?" <i>Pauperis est numerare pecus—Leave it to the poor
to count their flocks.</i> Especially why should David, who speaks
so much of delighting in God and the exercises of devotion, and
who, being old, one would think, should have put away childish
things, take a pleasure (so he calls it modestly, but he means
taking pride) in a thing of this nature? Note, Many things, not in
themselves sinful, turn into sin to us by our inordinately
delighting in them. Joab was aware of David's vanity herein, but he
himself was not. It would be good for us to have a friend that
would faithfully admonish us when we say or do any thing proud or
vain-glorious, for we often do so and are not ourselves aware of
it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p7">III. The orders executed notwithstanding.
<i>The king's word prevailed,</i> <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.4" parsed="|2Sam|24|4|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. He would have it done; Joab must
not gainsay it, lest he be thought to grudge his time and pains in
the king's service. It is an unhappiness to great men to have those
about them that will aid them and serve them in that which is evil.
Joab, according to order, applied himself with some reluctancy to
this unpleasing task, and took the captains of the host to help
him. They began in the most distant places, in the east first, on
the other side Jordan (<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.5" parsed="|2Sam|24|5|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>), then they went towards Dan in the north (<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.6" parsed="|2Sam|24|6|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>), so to Tyre on the east,
and thence to Beer-sheba in the south, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.7" parsed="|2Sam|24|7|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. Above nine months were spent in
taking this account, a great deal of trouble and amazement were
occasioned by it in the country (<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.8" parsed="|2Sam|24|8|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), and the sum total was, at
length, brought to the king at Jerusalem, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.9" parsed="|2Sam|24|9|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. Whether the numbers answered
David's expectation or no we are not told, nor whether the account
fed his pride or mortified it. The people were very many, but, it
may be, not so many as he thought they were. They had not increased
in Canaan as they had in Egypt, nor were much more than double to
what they were when they came into Canaan under Joshua, about 400
years before; yet it is an evidence that Canaan was a very fruitful
land that so many thousands were maintained within so narrow a
compass.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiSam.xxv-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.10-2Sam.24.17" parsed="|2Sam|24|10|24|17" passage="2Sa 24:10-17" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Sam.24.10-2Sam.24.17">
<h4 id="iiSam.xxv-p7.8">The Numbering of the People
Punished. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p7.9">b. c.</span> 1017.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiSam.xxv-p8">10 And David's heart smote him after that he had
numbered the people. And David said unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p8.1">Lord</span>, I have sinned greatly in that I have done:
and now, I beseech thee, <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p8.2">O Lord</span>,
take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very
foolishly.   11 For when David was up in the morning, the word
of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p8.3">Lord</span> came unto the prophet
Gad, David's seer, saying,   12 Go and say unto David, Thus
saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p8.4">Lord</span>, I offer thee three
<i>things;</i> choose thee one of them, that I may <i>do it</i>
unto thee.   13 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.
  14 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us
fall now into the hand of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p8.5">Lord</span>;
for his mercies <i>are</i> great: and let me not fall into the hand
of man.   15 So the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p8.6">Lord</span> 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.   16 And when the angel stretched out his hand
upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p8.7">Lord</span> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p8.8">Lord</span> was by the
threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.   17 And David spake
unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p8.9">Lord</span> 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p9">We have here David repenting of the sin and
yet punished for it, God repenting of the judgment and David
thereby made more penitent.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p10">I. Here is David's penitent reflection upon
and confession of his sin in numbering the people. While the thing
was in doing, during all those nine months, we do not find that
David was sensible of his sin, for had he been so he would have
countermanded the orders he had given; but, when the account was
finished and laid before him, that very night his conscience was
awakened, and he felt the pain of it just then when he promised
himself the pleasure of it. When he was about to feast on the
satisfaction of the number of his people, it was turned into the
gall of asps within him; sense of the sin cast a damp upon the joy,
<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.10" parsed="|2Sam|24|10|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. 1. He was
convinced of his sin: <i>His heart smote him</i> before the prophet
came to him (I think it should not be read <i>for,</i> <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.11" parsed="|2Sam|24|11|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>, but <i>and, when David
was up,</i> so it is in the original), his conscience showed him
the evil of what he had done; now that appeared sin, and
exceedingly sinful, which before he saw no harm in. He reflected
upon it with great regret and his heart reproached him for it.
Note, It is a good thing, when a man has sinned, to have a heart
within him to smite him for it; it is a good sign of a principle of
grace in the heart, and a good step towards repentance and
reformation. 2. He confessed it to God and begged earnestly for the
forgiveness of it. (1.) He owned that he had sinned, sinned
greatly, though to others it might seem no sin at all, or a very
little one. True penitents, whose consciences are tender and well
informed, see that evil in sin which others do not see. (2.) He
owned that he had <i>done foolishly, very foolishly,</i> because he
had done it in the pride of his heart; and it was folly for him to
be proud of the numbers of his people, when they were God's people,
not his, and, as many as they were, God could soon make them fewer.
(3.) He cried to God for pardon: <i>I beseech thee, O Lord! take
away the iniquity of thy servant. If we confess our sins,</i> we
may pray in 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 class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p11">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 (<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.11" parsed="|2Sam|24|11|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>), and,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p12">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, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Prov.6.17" parsed="|Prov|6|17|0|0" passage="Pr 6:17">Prov. vi. 17</scripRef>.
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> <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.1" parsed="|2Sam|24|1|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. Though it was David's sin that
immediately opened the sluice, the sins of the people all
contributed to the deluge.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p13">2. As to the punishment that must be
inflicted,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p14">(1.) David is told to choose what rod he
will be beaten with, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.12-2Sam.24.13" parsed="|2Sam|24|12|24|13" passage="2Sa 24:12,13"><i>v.</i> 12,
13</scripRef>. 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 <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.34.17" parsed="|Jer|34|17|0|0" passage="Jer 34:17">Jer. xxxiv. 17</scripRef>, <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
<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.15.2" parsed="|Jer|15|2|0|0" passage="Jer 15:2">Jer. xv. 2</scripRef>, <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 class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p15">(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 (<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.14" parsed="|2Sam|24|14|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>): <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, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.48.43-Jer.48.44" parsed="|Jer|48|43|48|44" passage="Jer 48:43,44">Jer. xlviii. 43, 44</scripRef>. 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 <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.26-Deut.32.27" parsed="|Deut|32|26|32|27" passage="De 32:26,27">Deut. xxxii. 26, 27</scripRef>. "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, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.17.14" parsed="|Ps|17|14|0|0" passage="Ps 17:14">Ps. xvii. 14</scripRef>, 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> (<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p15.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.36.30" parsed="|Ezek|36|30|0|0" passage="Eze 36:30">Ezek.
xxxvi. 30</scripRef>); "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> (<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p15.6" osisRef="Bible:Heb.10.31" parsed="|Heb|10|31|0|0" passage="Heb 10:31">Heb. x.
31</scripRef>), 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 class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p16">(3.) A pestilence is accordingly sent
(<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.15" parsed="|2Sam|24|15|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), 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, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.6" parsed="|Ps|91|6|0|0" passage="Ps 91:6">Ps. xci.
6</scripRef>. 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> <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.120" parsed="|Ps|119|120|0|0" passage="Ps 119:120">Ps. cxix.
120</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p17">III. God's gracious relaxation of the
judgment, when it began to be inflicted upon Jerusalem (<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.16" parsed="|2Sam|24|16|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>): <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 class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p18">IV. David's renewed repentance for his sin
upon this occasion, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.17" parsed="|2Sam|24|17|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>. 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> <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.16.63" parsed="|Ezek|16|63|0|0" passage="Eze 16:63">Ezek. xvi.
63</scripRef>. 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>
</div><scripCom id="iiSam.xxv-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.18-2Sam.24.25" parsed="|2Sam|24|18|24|25" passage="2Sa 24:18-25" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Sam.24.18-2Sam.24.25">
<h4 id="iiSam.xxv-p18.4">The Plague Removed. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p18.5">b. c.</span> 1017.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiSam.xxv-p19">18 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto
him, Go up, rear an altar unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p19.1">Lord</span> in the threshingfloor of Araunah the
Jebusite.   19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went
up as the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p19.2">Lord</span> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p19.3">Lord</span>, 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p19.4">Lord</span> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p19.5">Lord</span> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p19.6">Lord</span>, and offered burnt offerings and
peace offerings. So the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiSam.xxv-p19.7">Lord</span> was
intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p20">Here is, I. A command sent to David to
erect an altar in the place where he saw the angel, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.18" parsed="|2Sam|24|18|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. 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 <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.12.1" parsed="|Isa|12|1|0|0" passage="Isa 12:1">Isa. xii.
1</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p21">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,
<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.25.29-Lev.25.30" parsed="|Lev|25|29|25|30" passage="Le 25:29,30">Lev. xxv. 29, 30</scripRef>. 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 class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p22">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 (<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.19" parsed="|2Sam|24|19|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>), 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> <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.20" parsed="|2Sam|24|20|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>. Great men will never be the
less respected for their humility, but the more.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p23">2. Araunah, when he understood his business
(<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.21" parsed="|2Sam|24|21|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>), 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 (<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p23.2" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.22" parsed="|2Sam|24|22|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:22"><i>v.</i>
22</scripRef>), and all this <i>gratis,</i> and a good prayer into
the bargain: <i>The Lord thy God accept thee!</i> This he did, (1.)
Because he had a generous spirit with a great estate. <i>He gave as
a king</i> (<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p23.3" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.23" parsed="|2Sam|24|23|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>);
though an ordinary subject, he had the spirit of a prince. In the
Hebrew it is, <i>He gave, even the king to the king,</i> whence it
is supposed that Araunah had been king of the Jebusites in that
place, or was descended from their royal family, though now a
tributary to David. (2.) Because he highly esteemed David, though
his conqueror, upon the score of his personal merits, and never
thought he could do too much to oblige him. (3.) Because he had an
affection for Israel, and earnestly desired that <i>the plague
might be stayed;</i> and the honour of its being stayed at <i>his
threshing-floor,</i> he would account a valuable consideration for
all he now tendered to David. 3. David resolved to pay the full
value of it, and did so, <scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p23.4" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.24" parsed="|2Sam|24|24|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:24"><i>v.</i>
24</scripRef>. Here were two generous souls well met. Araunah is
very willing to give; but David is determined to buy, and for a
good reason: he will not offer that to God which costs him nothing.
He would not take advantage of the pious Jebusite's generosity. He
thanked him, no doubt, for his kind offer, but paid him <i>fifty
shekels of silver</i> for the floor and the oxen for the present
service, and afterwards 600 shekels of gold for the ground
adjoining, to build the temple on. Note, Those know not what
religion is whose chief care it is to make it cheap and easy to
themselves, and who are best pleased with that which costs them
least pains or money. What have we our substance for but to honour
God with it? and how can it be better bestowed?</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiSam.xxv-p24">III. The building of the altar, and the
offering of the proper sacrifices upon it (<scripRef id="iiSam.xxv-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.24.25" parsed="|2Sam|24|25|0|0" passage="2Sa 24:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>), burnt-offerings to the glory
of God's justice in the execution that had been done, and
peace-offerings to the glory of his mercy in the seasonable staying
of the process. Hereupon God showed (it is supposed by fire from
heaven consuming the sacrifices) that <i>he was entreated for the
land,</i> and that it was in mercy that the plague was removed and
in token of God's being reconciled both to prince and people.
Christ is our altar, our sacrifice; in him alone we may expect to
find favour with God, to escape his wrath, and the sword, the
flaming sword, of the cherubim who <i>keep the way of the tree of
life.</i></p>
</div></div2>