Ver. 1. And Satan stood up against Israel.] That is, The devil, as Job 1:6 Ps 109:6 Zec 3:1,2. Satan signifieth an adversary. So the devil is to God and his people, (Revelation 12:9 20:2) an adversary at law (1 Peter 5:8) hating them with an inward, spiteful hatred, as do also his instruments. (Psalms 55:4) The Emperor Commodus— cunctis incommodus, saith Orosius; semper incommodus, saith Vopiscus, in vita Taciti -was commonly called the enemy of God and men, the very name of the devil. Howbeit God so chained him up, that, of all the emperors until Constantine, he was most favourable unto Christians, by the mediation of Marcia, who favoured their doctrine, saith Dion; but especially by the overruling power and providence of God, who also had a holy hand in this that David here did: [See Trapp on “2Sa 24:1”] Αντιδικος. Mountag., Act. and Mon., cap. 7, par. 115.
Ver. 2. That I may know it.] But what needs that, now that there was a general aut pax aut pactio, peace or truce with all nations? Curiosity it was, at least: yea, it was pride and creature confidence that pricked David on to this numbering of the people, and made him so peremptory. The herbalists write of a certain plant which they call the Devil’s bit: because, being of sovereign use for mankind, the devil is thought, by simple people, of malice to bite off the root of it, which is found very small, or none at all. Humility is like unto this root, and may be called devil’s bit: not because he can ever bite it off, but for that he never leaveth nibbling at it.
Ver. 3. Why then doth my lord require this thing?] Or, Delight in this thing? which showeth that David was somewhat tickled and taken with the multitude of his people. See on 2 Samuel 24:3.
Ver. 5. [See Trapp on “2Sa 24:9”]
Ver. 7. And God was displeased.] Pride flieth in the face of God, when other sinners fly from him; and creature confidence robbeth him of his jewel: hence he so hateth them. (1 Peter 5:5)
Ver. 8. [See Trapp on “2Sa 24:10”]
Ver. 10. I offer thee.] Heb., I stretch out over thee; I put thee to thy option. This was a great mercy: David must be whipped; but he may choose his own rod. It is with sweet briar, surely, that God chasteneth his children.
Ver. 12. Either three years’ famine.] It is in Samuel, seven years’ famine. Seven years, say some, was God’s first offer: but David, praying for a shorter time—as Abraham brought God down from a fifty to ten persons, (Genesis 18:24-32) and as Ezekiel obtained ox dung for man’s dung (Ezekiel 4:15) -he reduced it to three years. See a better solution to this seeming contradiction in 2 Samuel 24:13. [See Trapp on “2Sa 24:13”]
Ver. 15. Unto Jerusalem to destroy it.] There was the ark; there were David and the elders humbling themselves: thither therefore the plague came last.
Ver. 16. Having a drawn sword in his hand.] This must needs be terrible to the beholders. Commodus, the emperor, set his own statue before the senate house, in form of an archer ready to shoot, that he might strike a terror into the people. Herodian.
Ver. 17. See on 2 Samuel 24:17.
Ver. 18. Then the angel of the Lord.] Not the destroying angel, saith Diodate, but the Son of God himself, who did appear to the prophets. Επεχω.
Ver. 20. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.] Though he had sometime been a king, as some gather from 2 Samuel 24:23. [See Trapp on “2Sa 24:23”]
Ver. 23. Lo, I give thee the oxen also.] Wherewith he was treading out the corn, as Deuteronomy 25:4. I give it all.] He was the more free and forward in his offer, so to expedite the business for the staying of the plague, whereof he and his sons were afraid, and hid themselves.
Ver. 28. Then he sacrificed there.] There Abraham had sacrificed long before (Genesis 22:2,9)