Keraia
2 Samuel 24

2 Samuel 24:1

David’s Military Census · 2 Samuel 24:1–9
Read 2 Samuel 24

Translations

Modern
Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”
Traditional
And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
Literal
And the anger of YHWH added to be hot against Israel, and He moved David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”
Latin
Et addidit furor Domini irasci contra Israël, commovitque David in eis dicentem: Vade, numera Israël et Judam.

Original

Hebrew
English
Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”

Notes

2 Samuel 24:1

  • The reason for God's anger against Israel is unclear (but see Deuteronomy 4:25; 6:14–15; 29:22–28; 31:16–18).

  • The phrase stirred up refers to a Hebrew verb (suth) that means enticing or inciting someone to do wrong (1 Samuel 26:19, stirred you up against me). People usually disliked census-taking because they saw it as an invasion of privacy. They thought it led to taxes or forced military service (see study note on 2 Samuel 24:9). If David acted out of pride or was planning an unjust war (as 2 Samuel 24:9 might suggest), this could explain why it was considered a sin for him (2 Samuel 24:10).

2 Samuel 21:1–24:25

The final chapters of 2 Samuel form a coda (a concluding section). This section brings together and summarizes the main themes from earlier chapters.

These chapters are thematic, not chronological (arranged by topic, not by time). Because of this, not all the events happened at the end of David’s reign (for example, 2 Samuel 22:1).

The material is arranged using a common Hebrew literary pattern called a chiasm (a mirror-like structure). In a chiasm, the first and last sections match, and the middle section is the focus.

The structure of this chiasm is as follows:

A chiasm draws attention to the center section. Here, the center is David’s hymns. These hymns do not focus on David himself. Instead, they focus on David’s God.

Theme notes and profiles

David Joab Satan God or Satan?

Events

Parallels

Exodus 30:11–16 1 Chronicles 21:1–6

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province

Glossary

Census David Disease Moriah Samuel, Books of First and Second Satan

Topics

Armies: Enumeration of Israel's Military Forces Census: The Numbering of Israel by David David: King of Israel: Takes the Military Strength of Israel Without Divine Authority, and is Reproved Israel: Number of, when David Counted Presumption: David, in Numbering Israel Rulers: Wicked: David, Numbering Israel and Judah Sin: The Israelites The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Israelites