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1 Chronicles 21

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1Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to take a census of Israel. 2David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, “Go, count Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring me word, that I may know how many there are.” 3Joab said, “May Yahweh make his people a hundred times as many as they are. But, my lord the king, aren’t they all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause of guilt to Israel?” 4Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, then came to Jerusalem. 5Joab gave up the sum of the census of the people to David. All those of Israel were one million one hundred thousand men who drew a sword; and in Judah were four hundred seventy thousand men who drew a sword. 6But he didn’t count Levi and Benjamin among them; for the king’s word was abominable to Joab. 7God was displeased with this thing; therefore he struck Israel. 8David said to God, “I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing. But now put away, I beg you, the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.” 9Yahweh spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying, 10“Go and speak to David, saying, ‘Yahweh says, “I offer you three things. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you.”’” 11So Gad came to David, and said to him, “Yahweh says, ‘Take your choice: 12either three years of famine; or three months to be consumed before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you; or else three days the sword of Yahweh, even pestilence in the land, and Yahweh’s angel destroying throughout all the borders of Israel. Now therefore consider what answer I shall return to him who sent me.’” 13David said to Gad, “I am in distress. Let me fall, I pray, into Yahweh’s hand; for his mercies are very great. Don’t let me fall into man’s hand.” 14So Yahweh sent a pestilence on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell. 15God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he was about to destroy, Yahweh saw, and he relented of the disaster, and said to the destroying angel, “It is enough. Now withdraw your hand.” Yahweh’s angel was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16David lifted up his eyes, and saw Yahweh’s angel standing between earth and the sky, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces. 17David said to God, “Isn’t it I who commanded the people to be counted? It is even I who have sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O Yahweh my God, be against me, and against my father’s house; but not against your people, that they should be plagued.” 18Then Yahweh’s angel commanded Gad to tell David that David should go up and raise an altar to Yahweh on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spoke in Yahweh’s name. 20Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat. 21As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground. 22Then David said to Ornan, “Give me the place of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar to Yahweh on it. You shall sell it to me for the full price, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people.” 23Ornan said to David, “Take it for yourself, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes. Behold, I give the oxen for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meal offering. I give it all.” 24King David said to Ornan, “No; but I will most certainly buy it for the full price. For I will not take that which is yours for Yahweh, nor offer a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” 25So David gave to Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the place. 26David built an altar to Yahweh there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on Yahweh; and he answered him from the sky by fire on the altar of burnt offering. 27Then Yahweh commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath. 28At that time, when David saw that Yahweh had answered him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. 29For Yahweh’s tabernacle, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering, were at that time in the high place at Gibeon. 30But David couldn’t go before it to inquire of God; for he was afraid because of the sword of Yahweh’s angel.

World English Bible (public domain)

“And David said to God, "I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly."”

1 Chronicles 21:8

Summary

In 1 Chronicles chapter 21, we witness a significant moment in King David's reign marked by his decision to conduct a census of Israel, an action prompted by Satan. This census was not merely a counting of the people but indicated a reliance on military strength rather than divine support, reflecting a lapse in faith. As a result of this decision, God becomes angered, leading to a divine punishment where a plague strikes Israel. David's heart is troubled by the punishment inflicted upon his people because of his sin, demonstrating his deep care as a leader and his acknowledgment of his failure. David's repentance and plea for mercy invoke God's compassion as he seeks to make atonement for his actions through the building of an altar on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. The chapter concludes with David's recognition of God's sovereignty and mercy as he is instructed to build an altar where the plague is halted. This act not only serves to make personal atonement but also signifies the establishment of a sacred space for future worship, ultimately linking David's actions to the significance of the Temple that would be built by his son Solomon. The themes of sin, repentance, divine judgment, and mercy intertwine throughout this narrative, offering insights into God's character and the importance of faith in leadership. Theologically, this chapter underscores the principle that even great leaders are susceptible to sin and must remain steadfast in their reliance on God. David's immediate response of repentance exemplifies the importance of turning back to God in times of failure. Furthermore, the establishment of the altar foreshadows the sacrificial system that would later be central to Jewish worship, emphasizing the need for atonement and the mercy of God as part of His covenant relationship with His people.

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Chapter outline

How 1 Chronicles 21 unfolds

  1. 1 Chronicles 21:1–2 Satan's Influence on David

    Satan incites David to conduct a census of Israel, reflecting a misguided reliance on military numbers.

  2. 1 Chronicles 21:3–6 Joab's Warning Ignored

    Joab cautions David against the census, recognizing it as a potential source of guilt for Israel, but David's command prevails.

  3. 1 Chronicles 21:7–8 God's Displeasure and David's Confession

    God is displeased with the census, leading to punishment on Israel. David acknowledges his sin and seeks God's mercy.

  4. 1 Chronicles 21:9–13 Choices of Punishment

    God offers David three options for punishment through the prophet Gad, highlighting the seriousness of David's sin.

  5. 1 Chronicles 21:14–17 Pestilence and David's Plea

    David chooses pestilence, resulting in significant loss of life, prompting him to plead for mercy on behalf of the people.

  6. 1 Chronicles 21:18–21 Building the Altar

    David is instructed to build an altar on Ornan's threshing floor, marking a pivotal moment for atonement.

  7. 1 Chronicles 21:22–30 David's Sacrifice and God's Response

    David insists on paying for the threshing floor, builds an altar, and offers sacrifices, which God accepts, halting the plague.

Key verses

  • 1 Chronicles 21:8David's acknowledgment of sin and plea for mercy encapsulate the chapter's exploration of repentance and divine forgiveness.

Main themes in 1 Chronicles 21

sin and repentance

David's sin is first revealed when he commands a census of Israel, as indicated in verse 2. This act is not merely a logistical decision but a display of pride and lack of trust in God, leading him to realize the gravity of his actions. His subsequent acknowledgment of wrongdoing and plea for forgiveness in verse 8 illustrates the necessity of true repentance, which is essential for restoring his relationship with God and understanding the consequences of sin.

divine judgment

The judgment of God is evident as a plague strikes Israel due to David's census, particularly in verses 14 and 15. The severity of the punishment underscores the seriousness of the king's actions and the impact on the entire nation. This theme emphasizes the direct connection between sin and divine response.

leadership and accountability

David’s leadership is tested through his decision to count the people, which Joab warns against in verse 3. His failure to heed Joab's counsel leads to severe consequences for Israel, illustrating the high stakes of leadership. This theme reveals the responsibility leaders have for their actions and their effects on others.

God's mercy and atonement

The theme of God's mercy comes into focus when He decides to relent from further destruction, as noted in verse 15. David's response to this mercy is significant; he builds an altar and offers sacrifices, which exemplifies the process of atonement and the means of restoring his relationship with God. This theme emphasizes how sincere repentance can lead to divine compassion and the hope of redemption, reflecting the character of God in responding to human failures.

Cross-references

Passages that echo 1 Chronicles 21

Study questions

Questions for studying 1 Chronicles 21

  1. What prompted David to take the census in the first place?
  2. How does Joab respond to David's command for the census?
  3. What were the three options given to David as punishment?
  4. How does David demonstrate his leadership in the face of God's judgment?
  5. What significance does the threshing floor hold in this chapter?
  6. How does David's repentance influence God's response to Israel's sin?
  7. What does this chapter reveal about God's mercy?

1 Chronicles 21: frequently asked questions

What is 1 Chronicles 21 about?+
In 1 Chronicles chapter 21, we witness a significant moment in King David's reign marked by his decision to conduct a census of Israel, an action prompted by Satan. This census was not merely a counting of the people but indicated a reliance on military strength rather than divine support, reflecting a lapse in faith. As a result of this decision, God becomes angered, leading to a divine punishment where a plague strikes Israel. David's heart is troubled by the punishment inflicted upon his people because of his sin, demonstrating his deep care as a leader and his acknowledgment of his failure. David's repentance and plea for mercy invoke God's compassion as he seeks to make atonement for his actions through the building of an altar on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. The chapter concludes with David's recognition of God's sovereignty and mercy as he is instructed to build an altar where the plague is halted. This act not only serves to make personal atonement but also signifies the establishment of a sacred space for future worship, ultimately linking David's actions to the significance of the Temple that would be built by his son Solomon. The themes of sin, repentance, divine judgment, and mercy intertwine throughout this narrative, offering insights into God's character and the importance of faith in leadership. Theologically, this chapter underscores the principle that even great leaders are susceptible to sin and must remain steadfast in their reliance on God. David's immediate response of repentance exemplifies the importance of turning back to God in times of failure. Furthermore, the establishment of the altar foreshadows the sacrificial system that would later be central to Jewish worship, emphasizing the need for atonement and the mercy of God as part of His covenant relationship with His people.
What is the key verse in 1 Chronicles 21?+
1 Chronicles 21:8: "And David said to God, "I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.""
What are the main themes of 1 Chronicles 21?+
The main themes of 1 Chronicles 21 are sin and repentance, divine judgment, leadership and accountability, God's mercy and atonement.

Related chapters

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Study Notes

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