The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 330

overt. And in this sense either altern11- narrated both in the beginning of the Book tiYe statement gives the prima J<reie facts. of Numbers (i.) 11nd toward the close Either is true, and both may be true in (xxvi.) had specific moral objeots as as- different chronological order. And further, signed by God-among tllem the forcible that the anger of the Lord was kindled teaching of the loss entailed by the succes- against Israel is no disproof tllat Satan will sive rebellions of th.e people (Numb. xxvi. see and seize hls opportunity. It looks the 64, 65; Dent. ii. 14, 15), And though last, contrary way. There was a time and an not least, all these indications are lighted occasion in Eden when Satan thougllt he up by the express and emphatic announce- saw a.u opportunity, tried it, and found it, ments in God's original promises to Abraham, when the anger of the Lord was not kindled Isaac, and Jacob, that their seed should be- against Adam and Eve for certain. But come past numbering, multitudinous as the much more prompt will be the executive of stars, and as the sands of the seashore. Sa.tan at another and less doubtful time. From all which we may oonolude that only The paths in written history are often tliat numbering was held legitimate which awhile rugged and broken up; the written was for God's service in some form, and as history of Scripture is no exception. And against human pride and boastfulness-by in thus being the more in analogy with God's command as against a human king's history itself, those unevennesses and breaks fancy-and which was attended by the pay- are the better attestation of both the reality ment of that solemn "ransom" money, the of the Scripture history and the veracity of bekah, or ha.If-shekel (Exod. xxx. 12). Other its writers. The word (]D~) occurs twenty• numbering had snares about it, and it was four times in the Old Testament. On all no doubt because it had such intrinsically occasions of its occurrence in the Book of that it was divinely discountenanced, and Job and in the prophecies of Zecha.ria.h, it in this oaee severely punished. It seems shows the prefixed definite article; in gratuitous with some to tax David with all other places it ie, with the present having other motives than those of some passage, unaccompanied by the article. Its sort of vanity now 11t work, sinister designs translation here might appear strictly as of preparing, unaided and unpermitted, some that of a proper name. But this cannot be fresh military exploits, or stealing a. march said of the other instances of its use, when on the nation itself in the matter of some without the article (Numb. xxii. 22, 32; new system of taxation. The context offers I Se.m. xxix. 4). Thie constitutes with no corroboration of either of these notions, some the ground of the very opposite while several lesser indications point to the opinion and opposite translation. If we simplest explanation (eh. x:xvii. 23). regard the name as utterly expressing the Ver. 2.-And to the rulers of the people. personality of Satan, the passage ie very So Numb. i. 4, "And with you there shall noteworthy, and will be most safely re- be a man of every tribe ; every one head uf garded as the langna.ge of the compiler, the house of his fa.there" (see also eh. and not as copied from the original source. x:xvii. 22-24; 2 Sam. x:xiv. 4, 5). The signification of the word "Satan," as Ver. 3.-But my lord the king, a.re they ie well lm.own, ie "adversary," or "a.c- not all my lord's servants 1 '.I.'he place of enser." The sin of David in giving the this perfectly intelligible sentence, indicat- order of this verse was of a technical and ing that Joab discerned the object of David ceremonial character, in the first place, in desiring the numbering of the people, is whatever his motives were, and however occupied in the Book of Samuel by the intensified by other causes of a moral and words, "A.nd that the eyes of my lord the more individnal complexion. We learn king may see it;" which some for no very (Exod. xxx. 12-16) the special enact- evident reason prefer. It was, no doubt, a ments respecting what was to be observed very radical element of David's sin in this when " the sum of the children of Israel matter that he was thinking of the uatiou after their number" was to be taken. How- too much as his own servants, instead of as ever, the same passage does not say, it fails to the servants of his one Master. The Lord say, when such a. numbering would be legiti- ever knoweth who a.re hie, and numbcreth mate or when not. It ie left us, therefore, not only them and their names, but their io deduce this from observation. And we every sigh, tear, prayer. A oause _of tres- notice, in the first place, that, on the occasion paBB. This clause may be exph1med as of ill! undoubted rightness, it is the work of though trespass was eq?ivo.leut to the con- the distinct commandment of God (Numb. sequences, i.e. the pumslunent of trespass. i. 1-3; xxvi. 1-4). Next, we notice the This, however, rather tends to explain away religiotll! contribntion, " the ransom," that than to explaiu o. phrase. More probably was required with it (Exod. xxx. 12-16; the deeper meaning is that, in the fuct of xxxviii. 25, 2G; Numb. xxxi. 48-54). tho numLering, nation anti king would bo- Again, we notice that the numberings come one in act, and would become iu- on. lll, 1-30.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRO!-,ICLES. 329