Counting Instead of Fighting
May 22, 2024 at 3:04 pm | Posted in I Chronicles | Leave a comment
Tags: 1 Chronicles 20, 1 Chronicles 21, Biblical Violence, commentary on 1 Chronicles, David's census, Sunday School lessons on 1 Chronicles
And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.
I Chronicles 20:1 (emphasis added)
The statements about the time when kings go out to battle and David tarrying at Jerusalem have a certain irony. Going out to battle was specifically what David was called to do at this time. He was not a king of peace the way Solomon would be. However, there is a positive aspect to David sending Joab out. The cooperation and plurality of leadership and delegation of authority, and the exercise of multiple giftings by different individuals is a preview of what spiritual warfare in the New Testament Church would be.
“But David tarried at Jerusalem” is also ominous. It doesn’t mean that he merely remained at Jerusalem or stayed at Jerusalem, as most translations have it. There is a connotation of fault in “tarrying” – as if he lingered behind through laziness, disinterest, neglect, or some ulterior motive. It is translated from a Hebrew word, yasab, first used in the Bible in connection with Cain, who was supposed to be a wandering vagabond after his cursing by God, but instead lingered around in the land of Nod.
And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David’s head: and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city.
I Chronicles 20:2
The crown weighed around 65-70 pounds, so this must have been a brief ceremonial coronation.
5 And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver’s beam. 6 And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot and he also was the son of the giant. 7 But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother slew him. 8 These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
I Chronicles 20:5-8
This signals the most decisive defeat of the most recalcitrant enemies of the Israelites in Canaan. It was not accomplished in Joshua’s time. These slain giants of Gath were likely related to the same giants that had so frightened the spies who went out with Joshua and Caleb. Neither was this accomplished in Saul’s time (although David did defeat Goliath in those days). The Philistines of Gath apparently preferred representative duels to all-out battles.
And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
I Chronicles 21:1
The account in II Samuel 24 lets us know that Satan was allowed by God or used by God to tempt and influence David concerning the census. Of course, David had the ability to decline the temptation, but failed to do so.
3 And Joab answered, The Lord make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel? 4 Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.
I Chronicles 21:3-4
God’s blessings must not be limited to quantification in mere human terms. This could be one reason why the census was sinful. Also, Exodus 30:12 required a ransom in the form of a half-shekel poll tax, which David was not interested in collecting. Additionally, David’s pride may have played a role in his desire to take the census. He attempted to number God’s people when God’s covenant promise said that beneficiaries of the covenant would be beyond number.
The Deep End 
Counting Instead of Fighting
May 22, 2024 at 3:04 pm | Posted in I Chronicles | Leave a commentTags: 1 Chronicles 20, 1 Chronicles 21, Biblical Violence, commentary on 1 Chronicles, David's census, Sunday School lessons on 1 Chronicles
I Chronicles 20:1 (emphasis added)
The statements about the time when kings go out to battle and David tarrying at Jerusalem have a certain irony. Going out to battle was specifically what David was called to do at this time. He was not a king of peace the way Solomon would be. However, there is a positive aspect to David sending Joab out. The cooperation and plurality of leadership and delegation of authority, and the exercise of multiple giftings by different individuals is a preview of what spiritual warfare in the New Testament Church would be.
“But David tarried at Jerusalem” is also ominous. It doesn’t mean that he merely remained at Jerusalem or stayed at Jerusalem, as most translations have it. There is a connotation of fault in “tarrying” – as if he lingered behind through laziness, disinterest, neglect, or some ulterior motive. It is translated from a Hebrew word, yasab, first used in the Bible in connection with Cain, who was supposed to be a wandering vagabond after his cursing by God, but instead lingered around in the land of Nod.
I Chronicles 20:2
The crown weighed around 65-70 pounds, so this must have been a brief ceremonial coronation.
I Chronicles 20:5-8
This signals the most decisive defeat of the most recalcitrant enemies of the Israelites in Canaan. It was not accomplished in Joshua’s time. These slain giants of Gath were likely related to the same giants that had so frightened the spies who went out with Joshua and Caleb. Neither was this accomplished in Saul’s time (although David did defeat Goliath in those days). The Philistines of Gath apparently preferred representative duels to all-out battles.
I Chronicles 21:1
The account in II Samuel 24 lets us know that Satan was allowed by God or used by God to tempt and influence David concerning the census. Of course, David had the ability to decline the temptation, but failed to do so.
I Chronicles 21:3-4
God’s blessings must not be limited to quantification in mere human terms. This could be one reason why the census was sinful. Also, Exodus 30:12 required a ransom in the form of a half-shekel poll tax, which David was not interested in collecting. Additionally, David’s pride may have played a role in his desire to take the census. He attempted to number God’s people when God’s covenant promise said that beneficiaries of the covenant would be beyond number.
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