1 Chronicles Chapter 21    

“Satan.” This is most probably Satan, but it could be “an adversary.” The Hebrew text does not have the definite article, “the.” The NET text note says, “The Hebrew word ...can refer to an adversary in general or Satan in particular. There is no article accompanying the term here, which suggests it should be understood generally.” If it was simply “an adversary,” they would have been forwarding Satan’s causes to destroy Israel.

“to Joab and to the commanders of the people.” This was to Joab and to the commanders in the army (see 2 Sam. 24:2).

“Go, count Israel from Beer-sheba to Dan.” David may have wanted to count the people of Israel as a matter of self-reliance in war instead of relying on Yahweh no matter how large or small his army was.

“All those of Israel were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, and in Judah were 470,000 men who drew sword.” The numbers are different in 2 Samuel 24:9. The reason for the difference is not precisely known.

“But he did not count Levi and Benjamin.” There is no explanation for why Joab would not count Benjamin. It has been suggested that Benjamin was already so small in number due to their rebellion in Judges that Joab did not want to risk them if David’s action brought a plague, which it did.

“the angel of Yahweh destroying.” This is the same vocabulary as the destroying angel in Exodus 12:23, and he will appear again in 1 Chron. 21:15.

“and 70,000 men of Israel fell.” The word “fell” means “died,” and the word “died” is used in 2 Samuel 24:15.

“be against me and against my father’s house.” This is very inclusive. The “house” of David eventually included Jesus himself.

“bowed down.” The common biblical way of bowing down before people or God was to fall to one’s knees and bow the upper body and face to the earth, as we see in this verse. The word translated “bowed down,” shachah (#07812 שָׁחָה), is the same Hebrew word as “worship.” [For more on bowing down, see commentary on 1 Chron. 29:20].

“600 shekels of gold.” This seems different from 2 Samuel 24:24, which says that David bought the threshing floor and oxen for “50 shekels of silver.” But Chronicles says “the place,” which therefore would have included a lot more land than 1 Samuel 24:24 is speaking about. Six hundred shekels is roughly 15 pounds (6.8 kg). A shekel was roughly .4 ounces (11 or 11.5 grams), (see commentary on Gen. 24:22, “shekel”).