Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan, and about to Zidon,
This itinerary through Gilead and the land of Tahtim-hodshi to Dan-jaan and around toward Zidon marks the onward progress of the census-takers in David's numbering of Israel. The numbering grew out of prosperity and pride, for Israel had increased and become strong, wealthy and great under David, and had become exalted and proud, forgetting the Giver of mercies and losing its peculiar holy character that separated it from the surrounding nations. David himself in prosperity failed to preserve the humility and trust in God of his earlier life.
He looked on the growth of the kingdom with pride, contrasted its present prosperity with the few numbers and little strength when he ascended the throne, took glory to himself, and gratified ambition by yielding to the temptation of the devil to number Israel in order to compare former weakness with present prosperity. The act of numbering Israel was displeasing to God and contrary to His express command and order, and was not working according to God's order. It was wrong because it would lead Israel to rely on strength of numbers instead of the living God.
The work described here was not fully completed before David was convicted of great sin against God, saw his error, humbled himself, and confessed his great sin in foolishly numbering the people. His repentance came too late to stop judgment, he was offered a choice of punishments, and he chose to fall into the hands of a merciful God rather than into the hands of wicked men. Swift pestilence destroyed seventy thousand, and as the angel with drawn sword stretched over Jerusalem advanced to destroy it, God commanded him to stay his work of death.
David in terror and compassion begged God to spare the sheep and to let His hand be against him and his father's house and not upon the people. God directed him to make atonement, his heart was in the work and his repentance was accepted, he refused to take Araunah's threshing-floor, cattle, and supplies freely and bought them for full price because he would not come before the Lord with an offering that cost him nothing, he built an altar and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, God answered by sending fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice, and the angel was commanded to put his sword into its sheath and cease destruction. The census is an example of selfishness, in trying to claim or control what God gives rather than recognizing that His gifts are freely offered to all.
This itinerary through Gilead and the land of Tahtim-hodshi to Dan-jaan and around toward Zidon marks the onward progress of the census-takers in David's numbering of Israel. The numbering grew out of prosperity and pride, for Israel had increased and become strong, wealthy and great under David, and had become exalted and proud, forgetting the Giver of mercies and losing its peculiar holy character that separated it from the surrounding nations. David himself in prosperity failed to preserve the humility and trust in God of his earlier life.
He looked on the growth of the kingdom with pride, contrasted its present prosperity with the few numbers and little strength when he ascended the throne, took glory to himself, and gratified ambition by yielding to the temptation of the devil to number Israel in order to compare former weakness with present prosperity. The act of numbering Israel was displeasing to God and contrary to His express command and order, and was not working according to God's order. It was wrong because it would lead Israel to rely on strength of numbers instead of the living God.
The work described here was not fully completed before David was convicted of great sin against God, saw his error, humbled himself, and confessed his great sin in foolishly numbering the people. His repentance came too late to stop judgment, he was offered a choice of punishments, and he chose to fall into the hands of a merciful God rather than into the hands of wicked men. Swift pestilence destroyed seventy thousand, and as the angel with drawn sword stretched over Jerusalem advanced to destroy it, God commanded him to stay his work of death.
David in terror and compassion begged God to spare the sheep and to let His hand be against him and his father's house and not upon the people. God directed him to make atonement, his heart was in the work and his repentance was accepted, he refused to take Araunah's threshing-floor, cattle, and supplies freely and bought them for full price because he would not come before the Lord with an offering that cost him nothing, he built an altar and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, God answered by sending fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice, and the angel was commanded to put his sword into its sheath and cease destruction. The census is an example of selfishness, in trying to claim or control what God gives rather than recognizing that His gifts are freely offered to all.