Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 24:2
For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which [was] with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.
2. For the king said ] And the king said: yielding to the temptation to which he was subjected by permission of God through the instrumentality of Satan.
the host ] The word for host in 2Sa 24:2 ; 2Sa 24:4 is different from that generally used of the Israelite army, and perhaps indicates that this chapter was derived from a different source.
number ye ] It is stated in 1Ch 21:2 that the commission was given to “Joab and to the captains (or princes) of the people.” Their cooperation is here implied by the use of the plural, and by 2Sa 24:4. They were associated with Joab in the work, just as the princes of the tribes were associated with Moses and Aaron in taking the census (Num 1:4 ff.), and this indicates that the census had some military object in view.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
1Ch 21:2, supplies some missing words. This passage should run, as at 2Sa 24:4, And the king said to Joab and to the princes of the host who were with him, etc. (compare 1Ch 27:22). They were employed with Joab as his assistants in the numbering, exactly as in the previous numbering Num 1:4 when a prince was appointed from each tribe to be with Moses and Aaron.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Which expression points at Davids sin in this matter, that he numbered them, not by direction from God, nor for any important business of the church or kingdom; but out of mere curiosity, and pride, and vain-glory; accompanied either with a secret distrust of Gods promise; or rather, with a carnal confidence in the numbers of his people; all which were great sins, and were so manifest, that not only God saw them, and all the degrees and aggravations of them, in David; but even Joab and the captains of the host were very sensible of them, 2Sa 24:3,4.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which [was] with him,…. Or who was with him, even Joab, who was now at court, and was a counsellor of David, as well as his general; or which army was with Joab, a standing army he had the command of:
go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba; from the northern part of the land of Israel to the southern part of it, and this course was accordingly steered, 2Sa 24:6;
and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people; so that this appears to be done not through any urgent necessity, but merely out of curiosity, and to gratify the pride of his heart, and please himself with the thought of ruling such a numerous people, and brag of their numbers to other nations, and place his confidence therein; and no wonder it was displeasing to the Lord.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2Sa 24:2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which [was] with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.
Ver. 2. That I may know the number of the people. ] As I have lately taken notice and made a catalogue of my worthies, and the forces under their command. This Augustus Caesar might do for his pleasure, and carry it away without punishment. Luk 2:1 Not so David. God will take that from others that he will not bear with in his own. Amo 3:2 The Philistines might cart the ark, but David smarted for so doing.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Joab: 2Sa 2:13, 2Sa 8:16, 2Sa 20:23, 2Sa 23:37
Go now: etc. or, Compass now all, 1Ch 21:2
from Dan: 2Sa 3:10, 2Sa 17:11, Jdg 20:1
and number: We know not in what the sinfulness of this action consisted. Some think it was a contempt of the promise that the Israelites should be innumerable, and that they ought not to have been numbered without an express command, as in the days of Moses. Others suppose with Josephus that it was a kind of sacrilege, in omitting to collect the half-shekel a-piece for the use of the sanctuary. It however would appear that pride and ambition, and a desire of conquest, induced David to this measure, and rendered it so displeasing to God.
that I may: Deu 8:13, Deu 8:14, 2Ch 32:25, 2Ch 32:26, 2Ch 32:31, Pro 29:23, Jer 17:5, 2Co 12:7
Reciprocal: Exo 30:12 – no plague 2Sa 24:7 – to Beersheba 2Sa 24:15 – from Dan Eze 48:1 – Dan
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 24:2. From Dan even to Beer-sheba From one end of the country to the other. For Dan was the utmost bound of it in the north, and Beer-sheba in the south. That I may know the number of the people This expression shows Davids sin in this matter, that he numbered them, not by direction from God, but out of mere curiosity, and pride, and vain-glory; accompanied with a confidence in the numbers of his people. All which sins were so manifest, that not only God saw them, but even Joab and the captains of the host.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
24:2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which [was] with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the {c} number of the people.
(c) Because he did this to determine his power and to trust in it, it offended God, for otherwise it was lawful to number the people, Exo 30:12, Num 1:2.