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class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/1_chronicles/21.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/1_chronicles/21.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/1_chronicles/21.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/1_chronicles/21.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/1_chronicles/21.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/1_chronicles/21.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_chronicles/21.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_chronicles/21.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to count Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_chronicles/21.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_chronicles/21.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_chronicles/21.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to number Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_chronicles/21.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Satan [the adversary] stood up against Israel and incited David to count [the population of] Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_chronicles/21.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to count the people of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_chronicles/21.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to count the people of Israel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_chronicles/21.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/1_chronicles/21.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Satan decided to cause trouble for Israel by making David think it was a good idea to find out how many people there were in Israel and Judah. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_chronicles/21.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_chronicles/21.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Satan attempted to attack Israel by provoking David to count the Israelites.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_chronicles/21.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Satan wanted to bring trouble on the people of Israel, so he made David decide to take a census. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_chronicles/21.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Satan attacked Israel by inciting David to enumerate a census of Israel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_chronicles/21.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_chronicles/21.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />An adversary opposed Israel, inciting David to count how many warriors Israel had.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_chronicles/21.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And an adversary stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_chronicles/21.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Satan stood up against Israel, and incited David to number Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_chronicles/21.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to take a census of Israel. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_chronicles/21.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Satan stands up against Israel, and persuades David to number Israel,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_chronicles/21.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And there standeth up an adversary against Israel, and persuadeth David to number Israel,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_chronicles/21.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And an adversary will stand up against Israel, and he will stimulate David to number Israel.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_chronicles/21.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And Satan rose up against Israel: and moved David to number Israel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_chronicles/21.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Now Satan rose up against Israel, and he incited David so that he would number Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_chronicles/21.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />A satan rose up against Israel, and he incited David to take a census of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_chronicles/21.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Satan stood up against Israel, and incited David to count the people of Israel.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_chronicles/21.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />THEN Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_chronicles/21.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Satan stood up against Israel and he urged David to number Israel.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_chronicles/21.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/1_chronicles/21.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the devil stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_chronicles/21-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wtNNY-qpWWI?start=5755" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_chronicles/21.htm">David's Military Census</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/7854.htm" title="7854: śā·ṭān (N-ms) -- From satan; an opponent; especially Satan, the arch-enemy of good.">Then Satan</a> <a href="/hebrew/5975.htm" title="5975: way·ya·‘ă·mōḏ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To take one's stand, stand. A primitive root; to stand, in various relations.">rose up</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">against</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">Israel</a> <a href="/hebrew/5496.htm" title="5496: way·yā·seṯ (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To incite, allure, instigate. Perhaps denominative from shayith; properly, to prick, i.e. stimulate; by implication, to seduce.">and incited</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1732.htm" title="1732: dā·wîḏ (N-proper-ms) -- Perhaps beloved one, a son of Jesse. Rarely; Daviyd; from the same as dowd; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse.">David</a> <a href="/hebrew/4487.htm" title="4487: lim·nō·wṯ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- A primitive root; properly, to weigh out; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll.">to take a census</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">of Israel.</a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan and bring me a report, so that I may know their number.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/24-1.htm">2 Samuel 24:1</a></span><br />Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/1-6.htm">Job 1:6-12</a></span><br />One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. / “Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.” / Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/3-1.htm">Zechariah 3:1-2</a></span><br />Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. / And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/4-1.htm">Matthew 4:1-11</a></span><br />Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. / After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. / The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/4-1.htm">Luke 4:1-13</a></span><br />Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, / where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry. / The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/12-9.htm">Revelation 12:9-10</a></span><br />And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. / And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down—he who accuses them day and night before our God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/20-2.htm">Revelation 20:2-3</a></span><br />He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. / And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/5-8.htm">1 Peter 5:8</a></span><br />Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/6-11.htm">Ephesians 6:11-12</a></span><br />Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. / For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/4-7.htm">James 4:7</a></span><br />Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/2-11.htm">2 Corinthians 2:11</a></span><br />in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/11-3.htm">2 Corinthians 11:3</a></span><br />I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/13-2.htm">John 13:2</a></span><br />The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/5-3.htm">Acts 5:3</a></span><br />Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/3-1.htm">Genesis 3:1-5</a></span><br />Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” / The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, / but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’” ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.</p><p class="hdg">A.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/24-1.htm">2 Samuel 24:1</a></b></br> And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/22-20.htm">1 Kings 22:20-22</a></b></br> And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/1-6.htm">Job 1:6-12</a></b></br> Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them… </p><p class="hdg">provoked David </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_kings/11-25.htm">Adversary</a> <a href="/2_samuel/24-1.htm">Census</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/20-8.htm">David</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/20-7.htm">David's</a> <a href="/1_samuel/20-9.htm">Designing</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/16-22.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-7.htm">Impulse</a> <a href="/2_samuel/24-1.htm">Incited</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/20-7.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/17-2.htm">Mind</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/19-7.htm">Moved</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-32.htm">Persuadeth</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-26.htm">Provoked</a> <a href="/2_kings/12-20.htm">Rose</a> <a href="/revelation/20-7.htm">Satan</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-28.htm">Standeth</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/11-14.htm">Stood</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/esther/3-10.htm">Adversary</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/21-5.htm">Census</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/21-2.htm">David</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/21-9.htm">David's</a> <a href="/job/5-5.htm">Designing</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/21-7.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/john/1-13.htm">Impulse</a> <a href="/job/2-3.htm">Incited</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/21-2.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/22-7.htm">Mind</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/23-26.htm">Moved</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/18-2.htm">Persuadeth</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/28-25.htm">Provoked</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/13-6.htm">Rose</a> <a href="/job/1-6.htm">Satan</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/6-12.htm">Standeth</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/21-15.htm">Stood</a><div class="vheading2">1 Chronicles 21</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_chronicles/21-1.htm">David, tempted by Satan, forces Joab to number the people</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_chronicles/21-5.htm">The number of the people being brought, David repents of it</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_chronicles/21-9.htm">David having three plagues proposed by God, chooses the pestilence</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_chronicles/21-14.htm">After the death of 70,000, David by repentance prevents the destruction of Jerusalem</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_chronicles/21-18.htm">David, by Gad's direction, purchases Ornan's threshing floor; </a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_chronicles/21-26.htm">where having built an altar, God gives a sign of his favor by fire.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">28. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_chronicles/21-28.htm">David sacrifices there, being restrained from Gibeon by fear of the angel</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_chronicles/21.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_chronicles/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_chronicles/21.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Then Satan rose up against Israel</b><br>This phrase introduces the adversary, Satan, as the instigator of the events that follow. In the Hebrew Bible, "Satan" means "adversary" or "accuser." This is one of the few Old Testament instances where Satan is explicitly named, highlighting his role in opposing God's people. The context suggests a spiritual battle, as Satan's actions are against the nation of Israel, God's chosen people. This reflects the ongoing cosmic struggle between good and evil, seen throughout Scripture, such as in <a href="/job/1-6.htm">Job 1:6-12</a> and <a href="/zechariah/3.htm">Zechariah 3:1-2</a>.<p><b>and incited David</b><br>David, the king of Israel, is portrayed as being influenced by Satan. This highlights the vulnerability of even the most faithful leaders to temptation and sin. The incitement suggests a stirring of pride or reliance on human strength rather than trust in God. This incident parallels the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (<a href="/matthew/4.htm">Matthew 4:1-11</a>), where Satan attempts to lead Jesus astray, but Jesus resists, unlike David in this instance.<p><b>to take a census of Israel</b><br>The census itself was not inherently sinful, as censuses were conducted for various reasons in Israel's history (e.g., <a href="/numbers/1-2.htm">Numbers 1:2-3</a>). However, this particular census was motivated by pride and a desire to measure military strength, reflecting a lack of trust in God's provision and protection. The act of numbering the people without God's command was seen as a reliance on human resources rather than divine support, similar to the warnings in <a href="/deuteronomy/17-16.htm">Deuteronomy 17:16-17</a> against kings amassing power for themselves. This event foreshadows the New Testament teaching in <a href="/2_corinthians/10-3.htm">2 Corinthians 10:3-4</a> about the spiritual nature of warfare and the need to rely on God's power rather than human strength.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/satan.htm">Satan</a></b><br>The adversary who opposes God and His people. In this context, Satan is the instigator of David's decision to conduct a census, which was against God's will.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/d/david.htm">David</a></b><br>The King of Israel, a man after God's own heart, who is incited by Satan to take a census of Israel, leading to consequences for the nation.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The nation chosen by God, consisting of the twelve tribes. The census was meant to count the fighting men, reflecting a reliance on military strength rather than on God.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/c/census.htm">Census</a></b><br>The act of counting the population, particularly the fighting men of Israel. This event is significant because it reflects a moment of disobedience and lack of trust in God.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/g/god's_judgment.htm">God's Judgment</a></b><br>Following the census, God sends a plague as a consequence of David's actions, demonstrating His justice and the seriousness of sin.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_reality_of_spiritual_warfare.htm">The Reality of Spiritual Warfare</a></b><br>Satan actively seeks to lead God's people astray. Believers must be vigilant and discerning to resist his schemes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_trusting_god.htm">The Importance of Trusting God</a></b><br>David's reliance on military strength rather than God's provision serves as a cautionary tale. Trust in God should supersede reliance on human resources.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_disobedience.htm">The Consequences of Disobedience</a></b><br>Sin has serious consequences, not only for the individual but also for the community. This underscores the importance of obedience to God's commands.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_repentance_and_mercy.htm">The Role of Repentance and Mercy</a></b><br>Despite David's sin, his repentance leads to God's mercy. This highlights the importance of a contrite heart and God's readiness to forgive.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_and_responsibility.htm">Leadership and Responsibility</a></b><br>Leaders bear significant responsibility for their actions, as their decisions can impact many. This calls for humility and seeking God's guidance in leadership roles.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_chronicles_21.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Chronicles 21</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_god's_anger_and_mercy.htm">How do we reconcile the portrayal of God’s anger with His mercy in 1 Chronicles 21?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/should_christians_avoid_world_id.htm">Should Christians avoid Worldcoin's World ID initiative?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_is_mastema_in_religious_texts.htm">Who is Mastema in religious texts?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_do_1_chr_21_1_and_2_sam_24_1_differ.htm">Why does 1 Chronicles 21:1 say Satan incited David, whereas 2 Samuel 24:1 implies God did? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_chronicles/21.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(1-6) The Census.<p>(1) <span class= "bld">And Satan stood up against Israel.</span>--Perhaps, <span class= "ital">And an adversary</span> (hostile influence) <span class= "ital">arose against Israel.</span> So in <a href="/2_samuel/19-23.htm" title="Therefore the king said to Shimei, You shall not die. And the king swore to him.">2Samuel 19:23</a> the sons of Zeruiah are called "adversaries" (Heb., a <span class= "ital">Satan</span>) to David. (Comp. <a href="/1_kings/11-14.htm" title="And the LORD stirred up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.">1Kings 11:14</a>; <a href="/1_kings/11-25.htm" title="And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.">1Kings 11:25</a>.) When <span class= "ital">the</span> adversary, the enemy of mankind, is meant, the word takes the article, which it has not here. (Comp. Job 1, 2 and <a href="/context/zechariah/3-1.htm" title="And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.">Zechariah 3:1-2</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">And provoked David.</span>--<span class= "ital">Pricked him on, incited him.</span> 2 Samuel 24 begins: "And again the anger of Jehovah burned against Israel, and He (or <span class= "ital">it</span>) incited David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah." It thus appears that the <span class= "ital">adversary</span> of our text, the influence hostile to Israel, was the wrath of God. The wrath of God is the Scriptural name for that aspect of the Divine nature under which it pursues to destruction whatever is really opposed to its own perfection (Delitzsch); and it is only sin, i.e., breach of the Divine law, which can necessarily direct that aspect towards man. If Divine wrath urged David to number Israel, it can only have been in consequence of evil thoughts of pride and self-sufficiency, which had intruded into a heart hitherto humbly reliant upon its Maker. One evil thought led to another, quite <span class= "ital">naturally; i.e.,</span> by the laws which God has imposed upon human nature. God did not interpose, but allowed David's corrupt motive to work out its own penal results. (Comp. <a href="/romans/1-18.htm" title="For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;">Romans 1:18</a>; <a href="/romans/1-24.htm" title="Why God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:">Romans 1:24</a>; <a href="/romans/1-26.htm" title="For this cause God gave them up to vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:">Romans 1:26</a>; <a href="/romans/1-28.htm" title="And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;">Romans 1:28</a>.) The true reading in Samuel may well be, "And an adversary incited David," &c., the word Satan having fallen out of the text. Yet the expression "Jehovah provoked <span class= "ital">or</span> incited against . . ." occurs (<a href="/1_samuel/26-19.htm" title="Now therefore, I pray you, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.">1Samuel 26:19</a>). . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_chronicles/21.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.</span> This remarkable sentence takes the place of the statements in the parallel, "And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah." Our own passage seems to confine the temptation and sin to David. David also seems to be spoken of as the object of malignant attack on the part of Satan, though Israel is spoken of as the object of malignant envy and animosity. It is also to be noticed that in ver. 17 David takes all the blame to himself, and speaks of the people as "innocent sheep." A people and whole nation have, indeed, often suffered the smart of one ruler's sin. Yet here the light thrown upon the whole event by the account in the Book of Samuel must be accepted as revealing the fact that there had been previously something amiss on the part of the people - perhaps something of illest significance lurking in their constitution. This alone could "kindle the anger of the Lord against Israel." It is the opposite of this which kindles the anger of Satan - when he witnesses excellence, surpassing excellence, as when he witnesses "the <span class="accented">weakest</span> saint," yet in that strongest position," <span class="accented">on his knees."</span> The apparent inconsistency in Satan being spoken of as resisting Israel, and the anger of the Lord being spoken of as kindled against Israel, is but apparent and superficial. In the first place, these histories do only purport to state the facts <span class="accented">overt.</span> And in this sense either alternative statement gives the <span class="accented">prima facie</span> facts. Either is true, and both may be true in different chronological order. And further, that the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel is no disproof that Satan will see and seize his opportunity. It looks the contrary way. There was a time and an occasion in Eden when Satan thought he saw an opportunity, tried it, and found it, when the anger of the Lord was <span class="accented">not</span> kindled against Adam and Eve for certain. But much more prompt will be the <span class="accented">executive</span> of Satan at another and less doubtful time. The paths in written history are often awhile rugged and broken up; the written history of Scripture is no exception. And in thus being the more in analogy with history <span class="accented">itself</span>, those unevennesses and breaks are the better attestation of both the reality of the Scripture history and the veracity of its writers. The word (<span class="hebrew">שָׂטַן</span>) occurs twenty-four times in the Old Testament. On all occasions of its occurrence in the Book of Job and in the prophecies of Zechariah, it shows the prefixed definite article; in all other places it is, with the present passage, unaccompanied by the article. Its translation here might appear strictly as that of a proper name. But this cannot be said of the other instances of its use, when without the article (<a href="/numbers/22-22.htm">Numbers 22:22, 32</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/29-4.htm">1 Samuel 29:4</a>). This constitutes with some the ground of the very opposite opinion and opposite translation. If we regard the name as utterly expressing the personality of Satan, the passage is very noteworthy, and will be most safely regarded as the language of the compiler, and not as copied from the original source. The signification of the word "Satan," as is well known, is "adversary," or "accuser." The sin of David in giving the order of this verse was of a technical and ceremonial character, in the first place, whatever his motives were, and however intensified by other causes of a moral and more individual complexion. We learn (<a href="/exodus/30-12.htm">Exodus 30:12-16</a>) the special enactments respecting what was to be observed when "the sum of the children of Israel after their number" was to be taken. However, the same passage does not say, it fails to say, when such a numbering would be legitimate or when not. It is left us, therefore, to deduce this from observation. And we notice, in the first place, that, on the occasion of its undoubted rightness, it is the work of the distinct commandment of God (<a href="/numbers/1-1.htm">Numbers 1:1-3</a>; <a href="/numbers/26-1.htm">Numbers 26:1-4</a>). Next, we notice the religious contribution, "the ransom," that was required with it (<a href="/exodus/30-12.htm">Exodus 30:12-16</a>; <a href="/exodus/38-25.htm">Exodus 38:25, 26</a>; <a href="/numbers/31-48.htm">Numbers 31:48-54</a>). Again, we notice that the numberings narrated both in the beginning of the Book of Numbers (1.) and toward the close (26.) had specific moral objects as assigned by God - among them the forcible teaching of the loss entailed by the successive rebellions of the people (<a href="/numbers/26-64.htm">Numbers 26:64, 65</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/2-14.htm">Deuteronomy 2:14, 15</a>). And though last, not least, all these indications are lighted up by the express and emphatic announcements in God's original promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that their seed should become <span class="accented">past</span> numbering, multitudinous as the stars, and as the sands of the seashore. From all which we may conclude that only <span class="accented">that</span> numbering was held legitimate which was for God's service in some form, and as <span class="accented">against</span> human pride and boastfulness - by God's command as against a human king's fancy - and which was attended by the payment of that solemn "ransom" money, the <span class="accented">bekah</span>, or half-shekel (<a href="/exodus/30-12.htm">Exodus 30:12</a>). Other numbering had snares about it, and it was no doubt because it had such <span class="accented">intrinsically</span> that it was divinely discountenanced, and in this case severely punished. It seems gratuitous with some to tax David with having other motives than those of some sort of vanity now at work, sinister designs of preparing, unaided and unpermitted, some fresh military exploits, or stealing a march on the nation itself in the matter of some new system of taxation. The context offers no corroboration of either of these notions, while several lesser indications point to the simplest explanation (<a href="/1_chronicles/27-23.htm">1 Chronicles 27:23</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_chronicles/21-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Then Satan</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׂטָ֖ן</span> <span class="translit">(śā·ṭān)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7854.htm">Strong's 7854: </a> </span><span class="str2">An opponent -- Satan, the arch-enemy of good</span><br /><br /><span class="word">rose up</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֥ד</span> <span class="translit">(way·ya·‘ă·mōḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5975.htm">Strong's 5975: </a> </span><span class="str2">To stand, in various relations</span><br /><br /><span class="word">against</span><br /><span class="heb">עַל־</span> <span class="translit">(‘al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Israel</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל</span> <span class="translit">(yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and incited</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיָּ֙סֶת֙</span> <span class="translit">(way·yā·seṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5496.htm">Strong's 5496: </a> </span><span class="str2">To prick, stimulate, to seduce</span><br /><br /><span class="word">David</span><br /><span class="heb">דָּוִ֔יד</span> <span class="translit">(dā·wîḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1732.htm">Strong's 1732: </a> </span><span class="str2">David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to take a census</span><br /><span class="heb">לִמְנ֖וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(lim·nō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4487.htm">Strong's 4487: </a> </span><span class="str2">To weigh out, to allot, constitute officially, to enumerate, enroll</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Israel.</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃</span> <span class="translit">(yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_chronicles/21-1.htm">1 Chronicles 21:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_chronicles/21-1.htm">1 Chronicles 21:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_chronicles/21-1.htm">1 Chronicles 21:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_chronicles/21-1.htm">1 Chronicles 21:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_chronicles/21-1.htm">1 Chronicles 21:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_chronicles/21-1.htm">1 Chronicles 21:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_chronicles/21-1.htm">1 Chronicles 21:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_chronicles/21-1.htm">1 Chronicles 21:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_chronicles/21-1.htm">1 Chronicles 21:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_chronicles/21-1.htm">1 Chronicles 21:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_chronicles/21-1.htm">OT History: 1 Chronicles 21:1 Satan stood up against Israel and moved (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_chronicles/20-8.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Chronicles 20:8"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Chronicles 20:8" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_chronicles/21-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Chronicles 21:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Chronicles 21:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>