Important Differences

1 Chronicles 21

            The story of David’s census in 1 Chronicles is different from its counterpart in 2 Samuel in a few important ways. First, the Chronicler places the blame on Satan instead of David or the Lord. We talked about this a little a few months ago. In 1 Samuel, the Lord ends wicked spirits to torment Saul (and, presumably, to call that wayward king to repentance), so we have learned that the Lord is capable of using the most unlikely instruments to accomplish His purposes. Probably we ought to put the two versions together like this: the Lord co-opts Satan’s perverse nature and David’s pride to bring Israel to repentance. The Lord is not the author of that evil, but in His own righteousness He is able to use it for His own ends. Similarly, we read that He is able to use foreign, pagan nations to accomplish what He wants done.

            The larger difference, the difference that really highlights the Chronicler’s own agenda, is the emphasis on the temple. For example, Joab excludes the tribes of Levi and Benjamin from the census. Levi is easy enough: the Levites are to tend to the tabernacle, so they are exempted from military service. Benjamin is more subtle: at this time, my study Bible reminds, both the tabernacle and the ark are physically in the territory of Benjamin. Another example is that the price that David pays for Araunah’s property is greatly enlarged in 1 Chronicles, probably reflecting the price of the whole property as opposed to just the threshing floor in 2 Samuel. The point introduces David’s generosity in preparing for the construction of the temple. Finally, 1 Chronicles 21:28-22:1 are not paralleled in 2 Samuel, but here the site is explicitly named the future home of the temple.