Wesley Corpus

Chapter XXI David causes Joab to number the people, ver. 1 - 6. He repents, ver. 7, 8. God gives him his choice of three judgments, and he chuses the pestilence, ver. 9 - 13. The havock made thereby: Jerusalem spared, ver. 14, 15. David's prayer, ver. 16, 17. His sacrifice and staying of the plague, ver. 18 - 30. Satan stood - Before the Lord and his tribunal to accuse David and Israel, and to beg God's permission to tempt David. Standing is the accusers posture before men's tribunals; and consequently the holy scripture (which useth to speak of the things of God, after the manner of men, to bring them down to our capacities) elsewhere represent Satan in this posture. Why, &c. - Or, why should this be a cause of trespass, or an occasion of punishment to Israel God commonly punishes the people for the sins of their rulers, because they are for the most part guilty of their sins in one kind or other; or at least God takes this occasion to punish people for all their sins. Counted not - Partly for the following reason; and principally by God's gracious providence to Levi, because they were devoted to his service; and to Benjamin, because they were the least of all the tribes, having been almost extinct, Judg 21:6, and because God foresaw that they would be faithful to the house of David in the division of the tribes, and therefore he would not have them diminished. And Joab also presumed to leave these two tribes unnumbered, because he had specious pretences for it; for Levi, because they were no warriors, and the king's command reached only of those that drew sword. And for Benjamin, because they, being so small a tribe, and bordering upon Jerusalem, might easily be numbered afterward. Displeased - Because this was done without any colour of necessity, and out of mere curiosity, and ostentation. There fell, &c. - He was proud of the number of his people, but God took a course to make them fewer. Justly is that we are proud of so, taken from us, or embittered to us. Sackcloth - In mourning garments, humbling themselves before God for their sins, and deprecating his wrath against the people. Set up an altar, &c. - The commanding of David to build an altar, was a blessed token of reconciliation.