Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 6. Levi and Benjamin counted he not] The rabbins give the following reason for this: Joab, seeing that this would bring down destruction upon the people, purposed to save two tribes. Should David ask, Why have you not numbered the Levites? Joab purposed to say, Because the Levites are not reckoned among the children of Israel. Should he ask, Why have you not numbered Benjamin? he would answer, Benjamin has been already sufficiently punished, on account of the treatment of the woman at Gibeah: if, therefore, this tribe were to be again punished, who would remain?
Matthew Henry Commentary
- David's wars.
--Though the Lord will severely correct the sins of his believin people, he will not leave them in the hands of their enemies. Hi assistance will overcome all advantages of number and strength of thos that defy his Israel. All that trust in Christ, shall be made more tha conquerors through him that loveth them.
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 needfu connexion with the subjects here noted. But David's sin, in numberin the people, is related: in the atonement made for that sin, there wa 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. Thu Christ was made sin, and a curse for us; it pleased the Lord to bruis him, that through him, God might be to us, not a consuming Fire, but reconciled God. It is good to continue attendance on those ordinance 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 _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ולוי3878 ובנימן1144 לא3808 פקד6485 בתוכם8432 כי3588 נתעב8581 דבר1697 המלך4428 את854 יואב׃3097
