The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 329

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XXI. markable sentence takes the place of the statements in the parallel, "And again the This very important chapter in David's anger of the Lord wwi kindled ago.inst history is the parallel of 2 Sam. xxiv.1-25, Israel, e.nd he moved David ago.inst them which contains some details not found here, to say, Go, number Israel and Judah." e.g. the route ta.ken by those who went to Our own passage seems to confine the temp- tation and sin to David. Do.vid o.lso seems number Israel (2 Sam. xxiv. 5-8), and to be spoken of as the object of malig □ o.nt omits others. This chapter furnishes one atto.ck on the part of Sato.a, though Israel of the clearer proofs (in respect of what it is spoken of e.s the object of mo.ligno.nt supplies, not found in Samuel) that its envy o.nd animosity. It is also lo be indebtedness is not to that book, but to a noticed that in ver. 17 David takes l\ll the blame to himself, o.nd speoks of the work open 08 well to the compiler of people I\S "innooent sheep." A people o.nd Chronicles as - to the writer of So.muel. whole nation hnve, in,leed, ofton suffered the Its contents foll into five sections. 1. smo.rt of one rnler's sin. Yet hero the light David's command to number the people, thrown upon the whole event by the account in the Book of Samuel must be accepted with Joo.b's remonstrances (vers. 1-6). as revealing the fact that there ho.cl been 2. The means taken to rouse David to a previously something amiss on the part of sense of his sin, o.nd his confession thereof the people - perhaps something of illest (vera. 7, 8). 3. The choice between punish- significance lurking in their constitution. ments presented to him o.nd his prayer under This alone could "kindle the anger of the Lord against Isro.el." It is the opposite of the dro.wn sword of the angel for the spar- this which kindles the anger ofSat,m-when ing of the people (vere. 9-17). 4. The he witnesses excellence, surpassing excel- accepted propitiatory aacrifioea and offer- lenco, as when he witnesses "tho weakest ings of David, and the oonsequent stay of saint," yet in that strongest position," on his the plague (vera.18-27). 5. David's grate- kneea." The apparent inconsistency in Satan being spoken of as resisting Isruel, n.nd the ful establishment of that same spot as the anger of the Lord being spokon of o.s place of BBorifice (vers. 28-30). kindled ago.inst Israel, is but npparont Vcr.1.-Batan atood up against IBrael, and o.nd supcrlicial. In the first pince, thcso, provoked David to number lal'ael. This re- hidlorfos do only purport to stuto tile foot.I  323 THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [err. xx1. 1-30.