211 Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.
211 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
211 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.
211 Now Satan entered the scene and seduced David into taking a census of Israel.
211 Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.
211 Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 21:1
Chapter Contents
David's numbering the people.
No mention is made in this book of David's sin in the matter of Uriah, neither of the troubles that followed it: they had no needful connexion with the subjects here noted. But David's sin, in numbering the people, is related: in the atonement made for that sin, there was notice of the place on which the temple should be built. The command to David to build an altar, was a blessed token of reconciliation. God testified his acceptance of David's offerings on this altar. Thus Christ was made sin, and a curse for us; it pleased the Lord to bruise him, that through him, God might be to us, not a consuming Fire, but a reconciled God. It is good to continue attendance on those ordinances in which we have experienced the tokens of God's presence, and have found that he is with us of a truth. Here God graciously met me, therefore I will still expect to meet him.