Antiguo Testamento

2 Samuel — Capítulo 24

David is tempted by Satan to number Israel and Judah, Sa2 24:1. Joab remonstrates against it, but the king determines that it shall be done; and Joab and the captains accomplish the work, and bring the sum total to th…

Versión

Texto — Reina-Valera 1960

1Volvió a encenderse la ira de Jehová contra Israel, e incitó a David contra ellos a que dijese: Ve, haz un censo de Israel y de Judá.

2Y dijo el rey a Joab, general del ejército que estaba con él: Recorre ahora todas las tribus de Israel, desde Dan hasta Beerseba, y haz un censo del pueblo, para que yo sepa el número de la gente.

3Joab respondió al rey: Añada Jehová tu Dios al pueblo cien veces tanto como son, y que lo vea mi señor el rey; mas ¿por qué se complace en esto mi señor el rey?

4Pero la palabra del rey prevaleció sobre Joab y sobre los capitanes del ejército. Salió, pues, Joab, con los capitanes del ejército, de delante del rey, para hacer el censo del pueblo de Israel.

5Y pasando el Jordán acamparon en Aroer, al sur de la ciudad que está en medio del valle de Gad y junto a Jazer.

6Después fueron a Galaad y a la tierra baja de Hodsi; y de allí a Danjaán y a los alrededores de Sidón.

7Fueron luego a la fortaleza de Tiro, y a todas las ciudades de los heveos y de los cananeos, y salieron al Neguev de Judá en Beerseba.

8Después que hubieron recorrido toda la tierra, volvieron a Jerusalén al cabo de nueve meses y veinte días.

9Y Joab dio el censo del pueblo al rey; y fueron los de Israel ochocientos mil hombres fuertes que sacaban espada, y los de Judá quinientos mil hombres.

10Después que David hubo censado al pueblo, le pesó en su corazón; y dijo David a Jehová: Yo he pecado gravemente por haber hecho esto; mas ahora, oh Jehová, te ruego que quites el pecado de tu siervo, porque yo he hecho muy neciamente.

11Y por la mañana, cuando David se hubo levantado, vino palabra de Jehová al profeta Gad, vidente de David, diciendo:

12Ve y di a David: Así ha dicho Jehová: Tres cosas te ofrezco; tú escogerás una de ellas, para que yo la haga.

13Vino, pues, Gad a David, y se lo hizo saber, y le dijo: ¿Quieres que te vengan siete años de hambre en tu tierra? ¿o que huyas tres meses delante de tus enemigos y que ellos te persigan? ¿o que tres días haya peste en tu tierra? Piensa ahora, y mira qué responderé al que me ha enviado.

14Entonces David dijo a Gad: En grande angustia estoy; caigamos ahora en mano de Jehová, porque sus misericordias son muchas, mas no caiga yo en manos de hombres.

15Y Jehová envió la peste sobre Israel desde la mañana hasta el tiempo señalado; y murieron del pueblo, desde Dan hasta Beerseba, setenta mil hombres.

16Y cuando el ángel extendió su mano sobre Jerusalén para destruirla, Jehová se arrepintió de aquel mal, y dijo al ángel que destruía al pueblo: Basta ahora; detén tu mano. Y el ángel de Jehová estaba junto a la era de Arauna jebuseo.

17Y David dijo a Jehová, cuando vio al ángel que destruía al pueblo: Yo pequé, yo hice la maldad; ¿qué hicieron estas ovejas? Te ruego que tu mano se vuelva contra mí, y contra la casa de mi padre.

18Y Gad vino a David aquel día, y le dijo: Sube, y levanta un altar a Jehová en la era de Arauna jebuseo.

19Subió David, conforme al dicho de Gad, según había mandado Jehová;

20y Arauna miró, y vio al rey y a sus siervos que venían hacia él. Saliendo entonces Arauna, se inclinó delante del rey, rostro a tierra.

21Y Arauna dijo: ¿Por qué viene mi señor el rey a su siervo? Y David respondió: Para comprar de ti la era, a fin de edificar un altar a Jehová, para que cese la mortandad del pueblo.

22Y Arauna dijo a David: Tome y ofrezca mi señor el rey lo que bien le pareciere; he aquí bueyes para el holocausto, y los trillos y los yugos de los bueyes para leña.

23Todo esto, oh rey, Arauna lo da al rey. Luego dijo Arauna al rey: Jehová tu Dios te sea propicio.

24Y el rey dijo a Arauna: No, sino por precio te lo compraré; porque no ofreceré a Jehová mi Dios holocaustos que no me cuesten nada. Entonces David compró la era y los bueyes por cincuenta siclos de plata.

25Y edificó allí David un altar a Jehová, y sacrificó holocaustos y ofrendas de paz; y Jehová oyó las súplicas de la tierra, y cesó la plaga en Israel.

ADAM CLARKE BIBLE COMMENTARY

Versículo 1

I. He moved David against them - God could not be angry with David for numbering the people if he mo…

He moved David against them - God could not be angry with David for numbering the people if he moved him to do it; but in the parallel place (Ch1 21:1) it is expressly said, Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. David, in all probability, slackening in his piety and confidence toward God, and meditating some extension of his dominions without the Divine counsel or command, was naturally curious to know whether the number of fighting men in his empire was sufficient for the work which he had projected. See more on Sa2 24:10 (note). He therefore orders Joab and the captains to take an exact account of all the effective men in Israel and Judah. God is justly displeased with this conduct, and determines that the props of his vain ambition shall be taken away, either by famine, war, or pestilence.

Versículo 3

II. Joab said unto the king - This very bad man saw that the measure now recommended by the king was …

Joab said unto the king - This very bad man saw that the measure now recommended by the king was a wrong one, and might be ruinous to the people, and therefore he remonstrates against it in a very sensible speech; but the king was infatuated, and would hear no reason.

Versículo 5

III. And pitched in Aroer - This was beyond Jordan, on the river Arnon, in the tribe of Gad: hence it …

And pitched in Aroer - This was beyond Jordan, on the river Arnon, in the tribe of Gad: hence it appears, says Calmet, that they began their census with the most eastern parts of the country beyond Jordan.

Versículo 6

IV. Tahtim-hodshi - Where this place was is not exactly known: some think that the words refer to a n…

Tahtim-hodshi - Where this place was is not exactly known: some think that the words refer to a newly conquered country, as our margin, the nether land newly inhabited; and if so, this was probably the country eastward of Gilead, which the Israelites, in the time of Saul, had conquered from the Hagarites, and dwelt in themselves. See Ch1 5:10, where this transaction is recorded. To Dan-jaan - Or, to Dan of the woods. This is the place so frequently mentioned, situated at the foot of Mount Libanus, near to the source of the Jordan, the most northern city of all the possessions of the Israelites in what was called the promised land, as Beer-sheba was the most southern: hence the common form of speech, From Dan to Beer-sheba, i.e., from north to south.

Versículo 7

V. The strong hold of Tyre - This must have been the old city of Tyre, which was built on the main l…

The strong hold of Tyre - This must have been the old city of Tyre, which was built on the main land: the new city was built on a rock in the sea.

Versículo 8

VI. Nine months and twenty days - This was a considerable time; but they had much work to do, nor did…

Nine months and twenty days - This was a considerable time; but they had much work to do, nor did they complete the work, as appears from Ch1 21:6; Ch1 27:24. William the Conqueror made a survey of all England, particularizing "how many hides or carucates the land is taxed at; whose it was in the time of his predecessor Edward; who the present owners and sub-tenants; what and how much arable land, meadow, pasture, and wood there is, how much in demesne, i.e., held and cultivated by the landowners; how much in tenantcy, and what number of ploughs it will keep; what mills and fisheries; how many sockmen, freemen, co-liberti, cotarii, bordarii, radmanni, radchenisters, villains, maid-servants, and bondmen, there are; how many hogs the woods would support; how many churches, priests, or parsons; what customary rents, prestations, and services, are to be paid and rendered out of the lands; what has been added to the manor; what has been withheld from it, and by whom; what land is waste, and what the whole was let for in the time of King Edward; and what the nett rent, and whether it was too dear rented, and whether it might be improved." This survey was begun in the year 1080, and was finished in the year 1086, six years having been employed in the work. This most important document is still preserved; it is in the Chapter House, Westminster, in two volumes, one in folio, on three hundred and eighty-two leaves of vellum. the other in quarto, on four hundred and fifty leaves; and is in as good preservation as it was seven hundred years ago. This work was much more difficult than that which was performed by Joab and his fellows. The work itself is known by the name Domesday Book.

Versículo 9

VII. In Israel eight hundred thousand - the men of Judah were five hundred thousand - In the parallel …

In Israel eight hundred thousand - the men of Judah were five hundred thousand - In the parallel place, Ch1 21:5, the sums are widely different: in Israel one million one hundred thousand, in Judah four hundred and seventy thousand. Neither of these sums is too great, but they cannot be both correct; and which is the true number is difficult to say. The former seems the most likely; but more corruptions have taken place in the numbers of the historical books of the Old Testament, than in any other part of the sacred records. To attempt to reconcile them in every part is lost labor; better at once acknowledge what cannot be successfully denied, that although the original writers of the Old Testament wrote under the influence of the Divine Spirit, yet we are not told that the same influence descended on all copiers of their words, so as absolutely to prevent them from making mistakes. They might mistake, and they did mistake; but a careful collation of the different historical books serves to correct all essential errors of the scribes. See the Dissertations of Dr. Kennicott mentioned at the conclusion of the preceding chapter.

Versículo 10

VIII. David said - I have sinned greatly - We know not exactly in what this sin consisted. I have alrea…

David said - I have sinned greatly - We know not exactly in what this sin consisted. I have already hinted, Sa2 24:1, that probably David now began to covet an extension of empire, and purposed to unite some of the neighboring states with his own; and having, through the suggestions of Satan or some other adversary, (for so the word implies), given way to this covetous disposition, he could not well look to God for help, and therefore wished to know whether the thousands of Israel and Judah might be deemed equal to the conquests which he meditated. When God is offended and refuses assistance, vain is the help of man.

Versículo 11

IX. For when David was up - It is supposed that David's contrition arose from the reproof given by Ga…

For when David was up - It is supposed that David's contrition arose from the reproof given by Gad, and that in the order of time the reproof came before the confession stated in the 10th verse. David's seer - A holy man of God, under the Divine influence, whom David had as a domestic chaplain.

Versículo 13

X. Shall seven years of famine - In Ch1 21:12, the number is three, not seven; and here the Septuagi…

Shall seven years of famine - In Ch1 21:12, the number is three, not seven; and here the Septuagint has three, the same as in Chronicles: this is no doubt the true reading, the letter ז zain, Seven, being mistaken for ג gimel, Three. A mistake of this kind might be easily made from the similarity of the letters.

Versículo 14

XI. I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord - David acted nobly in this bus…

I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord - David acted nobly in this business. Had he chosen war, his own personal safety was in no danger, because there was already an ordinance preventing him from going to battle. Had he chosen famine, his own wealth would have secured his and his own family's support. But he showed the greatness of his mind in choosing the pestilence, to the ravages of which himself and household were exposed equally with the meanest of his subjects.

Versículo 15

XII. From the morning - to the time appointed - That is, from the morning of the day after David had m…

From the morning - to the time appointed - That is, from the morning of the day after David had made his election till the third day, according to the condition which God had proposed, and he had accepted: but it seems that the plague was terminated before the conclusion of the third day, for Jerusalem might have been destroyed, but it was not. Throughout the land, independently of the city, seventy thousand persons were slain! This was a terrible mortality in the space of less than three days.

Versículo 16

XIII. The angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem - By what means this destruction took place, we k…

The angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem - By what means this destruction took place, we know not: it appears that an angel was employed in it, and that this minister of Divine justice actually appeared as an object. of sight; for it is said, Sa2 24:17, When David saw the angel that smote the people, he said, etc.; and both Ornan and his four sons saw him and were affrighted, Ch1 21:20. The threshing-place of Araunah - These threshing-places, we have already seen, were made in the open air. In the parallel place, Ch1 21:15, Ch1 21:20, etc., this person is called Ornan. The word that we render Araunah is written in this very chapter אורנה Auarnah, Sa2 24:16, ארניה Araniah, Sa2 24:18, ארונה Araunah or Araunah, Sa2 24:20, and the following: but in every place in 1 Chronicles 21:1-30 where it occurs it is written ארנן Ornan. It is likely he had both names, Araunah and Ornan: but the varieties of spelling in2 Samuel must arise from the blunders of transcribers.

Versículo 17

XIV. But these sheep, what have they done? - It seems that in the order of Providence there is no way …

But these sheep, what have they done? - It seems that in the order of Providence there is no way of punishing kings in their regal capacity, but by afflictions on their land, in which the people must necessarily suffer. If the king, therefore, by his own personal offenses, in which the people can have no part, bring down God's judgments upon his people, (though they suffer innocently), grievous will be the account that he must give to God. The people generally suffer for the miscarriages of their governors: this has been observed in every age. Quicquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi. - "When doting monarchs urge Unsound resolves, their subjects feel the scourge." Hor. Ep. lib. i., ep. 2, ver. 14. Against my father's house - That is, against his own family; even to cut it off from the face of the earth.

Versículo 18

XV. Go up, rear an altar unto the Lord - This place is supposed to be Mount Moriah: on which, accordi…

Go up, rear an altar unto the Lord - This place is supposed to be Mount Moriah: on which, according to the rabbins, Cain and Abel offered their sacrifices; where Abraham attempted to sacrifice Isaac, and where the temple of Solomon was afterwards built.

Versículo 22

16. Here be oxen for burnt-sacrifice - He felt for the king; and showed his loyalty to him by this of…

Here be oxen for burnt-sacrifice - He felt for the king; and showed his loyalty to him by this offer. He felt for the people; and was willing to make any sacrifice to get the plague stayed. He felt for his own personal safety; and therefore was willing to give up all to save his life. He felt for the honor of God; and therefore was glad that he had a sacrifice to offer, so that God might magnify both his justice and mercy.

Versículo 23

17. As a king, give unto the king - Literally, All these did King Araunah give unto the king. That th…

As a king, give unto the king - Literally, All these did King Araunah give unto the king. That there could not be a king of the Jebusites on Mount Moriah, is sufficiently evident; and that there was no other king than David in the land, is equally so: the word המלך hammelech, "the king," given here to Araunah, is wanting in the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic; in three of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., and in the parallel place in Chronicles: and, it is very probable, never made a part of the text. Perhaps it should be read, All these did Arnunah give unto the king. There is, however, a difficulty here. David had taken the fortress of the Jebusites many years before; yet it is evident that Araunah was proprietor of the soil at this time. It is not clear that he was a subject of David; but he paid him respect as a neighbor and a king. This is merely possible.

Versículo 24

18. Neither will I offer burnt-offerings - It is a maxim from heaven, "Honour the Lord with thy subst…

Neither will I offer burnt-offerings - It is a maxim from heaven, "Honour the Lord with thy substance." He who has a religion that costs him nothing, has a religion that is worth nothing: nor will any man esteem the ordinances of God, if those ordinances cost him nothing. Had Araunah's noble offer been accepted, it would have been Araunah's sacrifice, not David's; nor would it have answered the end of turning away the displeasure of the Most High. It was David that sinned, not Araunah: therefore David must offer sacrifice, and at his own expense too.

Versículo 25

19. David - offered burnt-offerings - And that these sacrifices were pleasing to the Lord, is evident…

David - offered burnt-offerings - And that these sacrifices were pleasing to the Lord, is evident from a circumstance marked in the parallel place, Ch1 21:26 : David called upon the Lord, and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt-offering. The plague was stalled - Jerusalem did not share in the common calamity, seventy thousand being the whole that were slain throughout the land. This book is unfinished, and requires 1 Chronicles 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29, to complete it. A few things relative to this history may be found in the beginning of the following book; but the information in 1 Chronicles is much more extensive and satisfactory.

Cargando 2SA 24...