1. And Satan stood up against Israel] In 2 Samuel “And again (a former occasion being at the time of the famine, 2 Samuel xxi. 1) the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them.” The change is significant of the late date of Chronicles In an earlier stage of Hebrew thought human sin and folly are at times naïvely ascribed to the agency of God, e.g. “He hardens Pharaoh’s heart” (Exodus x. 1, etc.): “quem Deus vult perdere prius dementat.” At a later date the instigation of some subordinate “evil” spirit was adduced, e.g. 1 Kings xxii. 20–24; and eventually this spirit of temptation was expressly termed “The Satan” or “Satan,” i.e. “The Adversary.” He was then regarded as a hostile spiritual being, the opposite of a guardian angel such as the Michael of Daniel x. 13, 21, xii. 1. In the book of Job the Satan is very definitely said to act under the guidance and will of God. Here nothing is said of the Satan having been directed by Jehovah.
to number] Only those of military age (verse 5), over twenty years of age (xxvii. 23, 24), were included in the census.
²And David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring me word, that I may know the sum of them.
2. to Joab] The object being to number “those who drew sword,” the captain of the host was the most suitable person to entrust with the business.
from Beer-sheba even to Dan] From the extreme south to the extreme north of the land.
Dan] The modern Tell el-Kādī, about forty minutes distance from Bāniās (Paneas), north of Lake Huleh (Waters of Merom). For its original name Laish, see Judges xviii. 28.
that I may know] Either with a view to imposing a tax or to undertaking some fresh great military expedition.
³And Joab said, The Lord make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of guilt unto Israel?
3. The Lord make ... are they not all my lord’s servants?] Counting will not increase their numbers, only Jehovah’s gracious favour can secure that. What more then can David desire than to know, as Joab now assures him, that one and all his subjects are loyal?
why will he be a cause of guilt unto Israel?] Compare Leviticus iv. 3, “if the anointed priest shall sin so as to bring guilt on the people” (Revised Version). The community is a unit, and the guilt of one falls on all.