Why did God discipline David after telling him to take the census in 2 Samuel 24? 1. For many Bible readers, the parallel accounts that describe David’s numbering of Israel (found in 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21) pose a serious problem. David's Tragic Census-who 'Moved' him to do it? God commanded Moses to take a census of the Israelites just before the building of the Tabernacle (Exodus 30:11-16), and we are told that it has been accomplished (Exodus 38-25-6). ISV. Verse Concepts . Fourteen times in that one chapter God repeats the instruction to number the men who were able to “go to war”—even though He had just recently confirmed His promise to fight on their behalf. God has Gideon wage the battle only with the 300 who did not kneel- with those soldiers who understand that it is only permissible to kneel before God. So, putting it in a nutshell, Israel was facing punishment from God and Satan was the means of this punishment by tempting David to take an illegal census; David … David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. The account of David’s military census appears in the books of Samuel and Chronicles. God offered David his choice of punishments: a three-year famine, three months of military fighting from Israel’s enemies, or three days of pestilence. Because of David’s census, the Bible says: “So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel from the morning till the appointed time. Then Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. David chose the pestilence, figuring that it was better to fall by God’s hand than an enemy’s. Later, God's anger blazed forth against Israel, so he incited David to move against them by telling him, "Go take a census of Israel and Judah." 3. Why did god tell David to take a census, then kill thousands of people after David did what he was told? 8)" So the context of the passage plainly demonstrates that the census was an act against God. So, why is this text difficult? 1 Chronicles 21 New Living Translation (NLT) David Takes a Census. the increasing size of Israel, was what caused the census. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which was called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. Of the several questions that arise in this unusual episode, we will look at two: 1. Who is "Satan" and why does he incite David (v. 1)? Instead, the Bible implies that David’s intentions (and thus his actions) were dishonorable, foolish, and sinful (cf. David forces Joab to take a census of the people for military purposes, displeasing God and resulting in severe plagues. 1 Chronicles 27:23 David did not count the men aged twenty or under, because the LORD had said that He would make Israel as numerous as the stars of the sky. God caused Caesar to call for the census. 21 Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel. See also the additional treatment here. What gives?! And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done. Friends, Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem because it was God's will for Jesus to be born there. New Testament scholar Dr. Harold W. Hoehner has summarized some of the top challenges faced by those who hold to the historical accuracy of Luke’s account. God punishes David by sending a plague on Israel killing 70,000 of the people 4. Old Testament > King David > God Kills 70,000 Israelites. SUMMARY. Bible Answer: First, we will look at the historical event and then look at why God disciplined David. Answer: There are a couple possible reasons to explain why God ordered a census of the people of Israel in the book of Numbers. Both God and Satan incited David to number Israel. 2 Samuel 24.10 And God was angry, too, at least that's what the prophet Gad told him. Numbers 1 records God telling Moses to take a census and determine the number of men who were able to go to war. In the verse you snipped out, we see Joab and the commanders of the army argue against David that it is simply vanity that causes this census to be taken. The pestilence was thus halted. Why does God need the people to be counted so often? It specifically says that God did in 2 Samuel 24:1, but it also says that Satan moved David to number Israel in 1 Chronicles 21:1. God could have commanded the census to reveal His power in redeeming such a large number of people or to list those who were able to serve in war (Numbers 1:3). God was satisfied with David's offering (2 Samuel 24:25, 1 Chronicles 21:26), and the end of the matter was complete. He makes plain that it is sin for David to take a military census of his people, but he ordains that he do it (2 Samuel 24:1; 24:10). He opposes adultery, but ordains that Absalom should lie with his father's wives (Exodus 20:14; 2 Samuel 12:11). 1 Chronicles 27:24 Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men but did not finish. It would be the threshing floor location on which David appeased God, and ended he and nation being punished, that another momentous event would take place! God did 2 Samuel 24:1, "Now again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, "Go, number Israel and Judah." God did not command David to take a census, rather David's pride in the blessing God had given him, i.e. Probably because David was supposed to rely on God to protect Israel, not his own resources. Analysis. Before addressing the question, it’s worth quoting the relevant texts. Provoking God Tribes Of Israel. Take note that the very census that caused Joseph and Mary to come to Bethlehem was the first of its kind to take place. If David sinned, why did … The pestilence was thus halted. God was angry at Israel so he incited David to take a census 2. 2 Samuel 24:1, 1 Chronicles 21:1 Again Yahweh's anger blazed against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, 'Go and take a census of Israel and Judah!' 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a census of all the people of Israel—from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north—and bring me a report so I may know how many there are.” God offers David a choice of punishments for having conducted the census (which god himself ordered in the first place): 1) seven years of famine, 2) three months fleeing from enemies, or 3) three days of pestilence. As a penance for this sin, he was allowed to choose either a famine, an unsuccessful war, or pestilence. David's repentance leads to the purchase of Ornan's threshing floor, which God designates as the site for the temple. 21 Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel. The Gospel of Luke uses it as the narrative means to establish the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem ( Luke 2 , Luke 2:1–5 ), but the Gospel of Matthew places the birth within the reign of Herod the Great , who died 9 years earlier. This seems wrong. 2 Samuel 24:3,10ff.). 2 Samuel 24:2 2 Sam 24:2. As a penance for this sin, he was allowed to choose either a famine, an unsuccessful war, or pestilence. David decides to take a census of the fighting men 3. For Egypt there is evidence of a regular periodic census every 14 years extending back to 773/20 and it is not improbable that … Although David eventually repented of his sin, God insisted on a punishment, letting David chose between seven years of famine, three months of fleeing from enemies, or three days of severe plague. In Wednesday’s Mass, at the first reading from 2 Samuel 24, we hear the Story of How King David ordered a census to be taken. Tools. Augustus himself conducted a census in Italy in and in Gaul in 727/27* [see roman dating system, ‘auc'] and had a census taken in other provinces. But David did so anyway. I love it when people actually ask interesting questions about the Bible! (5-9) The census is taken. David chose the third and in three days 70,000 died. And they crossed over the Jordan and camped in Aroer, on the right side of the town which is in the midst of the ravine of Gad, and toward Jazer. After the census, David decided that he had done something wrong, which is weird since he had only taken a census that God told him to take. 1. And Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. Further in the chapter, David admits this is a sin when he declares "I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing.(vs. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a census of all the people of Israel—from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north—and bring me a report so I may know how many there are.” From Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men of the people died” (2 Samuel 24:15). David commanded a census because the Lord ultimately planned that he do so, but Satan was used as the secondary cause to incite David. 1 Chronicles 21:1-17 New Living Translation (NLT) David Takes a Census. God offers David a choice of punishments for having conducted the census (which god himself ordered in the first place): 1) seven years of famine, 2) three months fleeing from enemies, or 3) three days of pestilence. David Commands Israel Be Counter. Satan was actively involved in David being moved to have a census. In closing. When the census had been completed, the Prophet Gad informed David of God’s anger and of His intention to punish David and all Israel. David’s general Joab strongly cautioned the King against such a measure, but David insisted on it anyway. God bestows evil consequences upon evil actions ("you reap what you sow"). The Census of Quirinius was a census of Judea taken by Publius Sulpicius Quirinius, Roman governor of Syria, upon the imposition of direct Roman rule in 6 CE. The historical event is recorded in both 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21. David chose the third and in … The question: In 2 Samuel 24 it says that God moved David to take a tragic census of Israel's military power, but in I Chronicles 21 it says that Satan moved him to do so. David pleaded for mercy and was told to build an altar to God on a particular threshing floor (2Samuel 24:16 - 18). This was accomplished by an "angel who was afflicting the people" 5. The skeptic accuses God of punishing the wrong people. That occurrence was only one month before this census is commanded. After a brief mention of four expeditions against the Philistines, the sacred writer records a sin of pride on David's part in his resolution to take a census of the people. In 2 Chronicles 2:17-18, Solomon took a census of the foreigners in the land for the purpose of distributing laborers. Question: "Why did God order a census in the book of Numbers?" God had not commanded a census be taken, nor did David instigate it for some noble cause. Anger Of God, Examples Of God Urging. David was taken by surprise and was forced to flee from ... the sacred writer records a sin of pride on David’s part in his resolution to take a census of the people. So David said to God, “I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing; but now, I pray, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” a. 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