Numbering of the people

Besides the numbering of the tribes mentioned in the history of the wanderings in the wilderness, we have an account of a general census of the whole nation from Dan to Beersheba, which David gave directions to Joab to make (1 Chronicles 21:1).

Joab very reluctantly began to carry out the king's command.

This act of David in ordering a numbering of the people arose from pride and a self-glorifying spirit. It indicated a reliance on his part on an arm of flesh, an estimating of his power not by the divine favor but by the material resources of his kingdom.

He thought of military achievement and of conquest, and forgot that he was God’s deputy. In all this he sinned against God.

While Joab was engaged in the census, David’s heart smote him, and he became deeply conscious of his fault; and in profound humiliation he confessed,

“I have sinned greatly in what I have done.”

The prophet Gad was sent to him to put before him 3 dreadful alternatives (2 Samuel 24:13; for “seven years” in this verse, the Septuagint and 1 Chronicles 21:12 have “3 years”), 3 of Jehovah's 4 grave judgments.

For thus says Lord Yahweh, “How much more when I send My four calamitous judgments against Jerusalem:
sword,
famine,
wild beasts,
and plague to cut off man and beast from it!

Yet, behold, survivors will be left in it who will be brought out, both sons and daughters. Behold, they are going to come forth to you, and you will see their way and actions; then you will be comforted for the calamity which I have brought against Jerusalem for everything which I have brought upon it. Then they will comfort you when you see their way and actions, so you will know that I have not done in vain all that I did to it,” declares Lord Yahweh. —Ezek. 14:21-23 LSB

Two of these David had already experienced. He had fled for some months before Absalom, and had suffered 3 years’ famine on account of the slaughter of the Gibeonites.

In his “strait” David said, “Let me fall into the hands of the Lord.”

A pestilence broke out among the people, and in three days swept away 70,000.

At David's intercession the plague was halted, and at the threshing-floor of Araunah, where the destroying angel was stopped in his progress, David erected an altar, and there offered up sacrifies to God (2 Chronicles 3:1).

The census, so far as completed, showed that there were at least 1.3 million fighting men in the kingdom, indicating at that time a population of about 6-7 million, in all.

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Article Version: February 16, 2025