o In 1 Chron: 11: 27: Shammoth the Harorite Concerning which and ſuch like alterations, and other changes of the Names, which will be obſerved, by comparing this Catalogue with that, it will be ſufficient to ſuggeſt, 1. That the ſame Names of Perfons, or Places, are differently pronounced according to the different Dialetts uſed by Men of vivers Places or Ages. 2. That one Man had oft two Names. 3: That David had more Worthies than thoſe here men- tioned ; and as lome of theſe were ſlain in the former part of Da- vid's Rergn, as £Aſahel was ; ſoothers came up in their ſteads ; and ſome wete added to this Number, asappearsfrom 1 Chron; i 1: where they are named but not numbred, as they were here ; and where there is a greater Number than is here expreſſed.
26 Helez the * Pailtice, Ira the ſon of Ikkeſh the Tekoite, ;
27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Huſha- thite, : : |
28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netopha- thite, :
29 Heleb the ſon of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the ſon of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, : 2
20 Benaiah the Pirathonice, Hiddai of the || brooks of Gaaſh, |
21 Abi-albon the Arbathice, Azmaveh the Barhu- mite, ;
32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite ; of the ſons ,of Jaſhen, Jonathan, |
23 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the ſon of Sharar the Hararite,
34 Eliphelet the fon of Ahazbai, the ſon of the Maachathite, Eliam the ſon of Ahichophel the Gilo- nite, : .
35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36 Igalthe ſon of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
27 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berorothite, armour bearer to joab the fon of Zeruiah,
38 Ira an Ithiice, Gareb an Ithrite,
29 U1ah the Hirtire ; thirty aria tfevenin all p.
p Herc are but 36 named. Either therefore one muſt be tupplied
whoije name 15 not expreiie | among the three ſecond Worthies : or, Jeab is coinprehended in the number, as being the Lord-General
of all. CH AF XAT.
David tempted by Satan forceth Joab to number the people © who are thirteen kunared rthouſan! fizhting Men, 1, — 9g. . David acknowleageth his ſen 1 it ; having thre judgments propounded by God : he t5in great diſtreſs, ana chuſeth the peftilence : of which ſeventy thwuand men die, 10, - 15, Davia by his humiliat: ;n preventeth the deſtruftion of Jeruſalem, 16, 17. He by Gad's direfFimm and order from God purchaſeth Araunah's threſhng- floor to build an altar there : on which having ſacrificed, the plague fayeth, 18, ——— 25.
Pf D again a the anger of the LORD was kindled | againſt Iſrael, and || he moved David 6 againſt them c, to ſay 4, Go numberiIfrael and Judah.
a To wit, after the former tokens of his anger, ſuchas the three years Famine, Uhap; 21. 6b He; Who? Either, 1. Satan, as is expreſſed, 1-Chron: 21: x. Or, 2. God; who is faid, in like manner, to fir up Saul againit David, 1 Sam: 26; 19 and 'to turn the hearts of the Egyptians to hate his people, Pſal: 105. 25: and to make men to erre from hu ways, 1/a: 63:17: and to ſend ſtrong deluſims, &c. and to haraen their hearts, All which Expreflions are not ſo to be under- ſtood, as if God did work theiz ſintul Diſpoſitions ; which neither was neceſlary, becauſe they are naturally in every Man's heart, nor poſſi-le forthe Holy God to do; butbecauſe he permits them, and withdraws k1s Grace, and all reſt:aints and hindrances from them, and giveth occaſions and advantages to them ; and diects their Thoughts to ſuch Objects as may indeed be innocently thought of, which yet he knows they will wickedly abuſe, and givethem up to Satan, who. hekn-ws will deceive and entice them to ſuch and ſuch Sins; which, being tempted ro do by Satan, and being effe&ed by their own wicked Hearts, he ſo orders and over-rules, that they thall be Puniſhmenrs for thei former Sins. cz: e. For Iſraz!'s Pu- mſhmenrt, & Or, ſzying. For this may be referred, cither, 1. to God of whom the ſame Expreſſion is uted, Sam: 16: 10. The Lord ſaid to Sh'mei Curſ David, Which in both places is not to be ur.deritood of any command or impulſe of God, but of his ſecret Providence diſpoling things in manner here above expreſſed. Or 2. To David : he moyed David to Jay, to wat, to Jeab, as he did, Perſe 2.
2 For the king ſaid to Joab the captain of the hoſt, which 245 with him, || Go now through all the tribes of lfrael, from Dan even to Beerſheba, and number ye the peopie, that I may know the number of the people e.
e Which Expreion points at David's Sin in this matter, that he numbred them, not by dire&ion from God, nor fr any impor- tant buſineſs of the Church or Kingdom; but out of meer curiolity, and pride, and vain-glory ; accompanied either with a ſecret d:- i:uct of God's Promulc ; or rather, with a cirnal conticence in the
)
$$ 45M YU 2 E
Numbers of his People. All which were great Sins, and were ſo marifeſt, that not only God faw theay, and all the degrees and ag-
gravations of them 1n David ; but eheryJea5 and the Captains of rhe Hoſt were very ſenſible of them, wcr. ..* /
3 And Joab ſaid unto the h Now the LOR D thy God add nnto the people ( how many ocver they be ) an hundred fold, and that the eyes of my lod the king may fee it: but why doth my lord the king de- light in this thing f 2.
f What reaſon or neceflity is there for this Aftion ? Isit tono
purpoſe, and will be burdenſome to thy People, and may offend God. and produce ill Effe&s
4 Notwithſtanding, the kings word prevailed againſt
and the captains of the hoſt went out from the preſence of the king, to number the people, of Iſrael. |
$S Joab perceiving the King bent upon*it, would not hazard the King's tavour, by further diſputing, or diſobeying his Command:
5 © And they paſſed over Jordan 4, and pitched i in
Aroer, on the right ſide of the city that lieth in the mid{t of the || river of Gad &4, and toward Jazer /. h They began their Computation in the Eafe. n part of David's Dominions, which were beyond Jor/an. i Or, encamped. For Joab carried with them divers of his Commanders, and others ; partly, t.r his honour, and the credit of the work : partly, to aſſiſt him in that troubleſome work : and partly, to overcome the People, in caſe they ſhould oppoſe ir as finful or burdenſome, or favouring of ſome evil Deſign which David might have upon them. &7z. e. Otthe River which lay in the Tribe of G34, or upoa the borders of Gal and Reuben, which was cailed Arnon, Deut. 2. 36. 1 Or, near Jazer, which allo was upon the River Arnon. |