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I Chronicles 21

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Tanakh · chapter reading guide

I Chronicles Chapter 21

I Chronicles Chapter 21 presents 30 verses in a searchable Hebrew text unit. This original reading guide identifies observable themes and a practical path through the chapter without adding an unverified interpretation.

Rashi's commentary

Verse 1
Now Satan arose upon Israel Although this chapter is not complimentary to David, it was written here because it says at the end of the chapter that he built an altar and the Lord answered him from heaven. This is complimentary to David.
Verse 5
the number of the census lit., the number of the number — A similar expression is (Num. 14:29): “... and all your numbered ones at all your numberings.”
and all Israel were a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand, etc — and Judah was four hundred seventy thousand But in Samuel (II 24:9) it is written: “eight hundred thousand, etc., and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men,” which apparently means that there were not so many of Israel as are stated here. The truth is that because the anger of the Holy One, blessed be He, was upon David, Scripture did not write there the number of all of those whom he had counted. Neither did Joab count all the tribes, as it is written (verse 6): “... because the word of the king was repugnant to Joab.” But here, because of David’s honor, he does mention the number and the reckoning that he counted, because it is his honor that such a massive army was in his tribe. And the following is proof to what I explained: that even that small part of Israel that he counted, he did not write their entire number in Samuel, but here, [the Chronicler] did write the entire number that he counted, because it is written here: “and all Israel were,” whereas in Samuel it is not written: “all.” And it is explicitly proven here before us, as it is written: (below 27:24): “Joab the son of Zeruiah began to count but did not finish, and with this there was anger upon Israel, and the number did not reach the number of the chronicles of King David.”
Verse 6
But Levi and Benjamin he did not count among them, etc — Joab knew that it would be considered a sin for the people, leading to a plague; Joab therefore said, “I can save these tribes from the census. Concerning Levi, if David says: ‘Why did you not count Levi?’ I shall answer him that they were not counted among the Children of Israel (Num. 2:33). And this is what I shall say about Benjamin: ‘Weren’t they stricken in the episode of the concubine in Gibeah? If they are afflicted now, what will be left of them?’”
Verse 8
and now, please put aside the iniquity of Your servant — Heb. עֲווֹן. This עֲווֹן is written with the plene spelling, with two “vavim,” i.e., please put aside the full iniquity that I committed. This word is written with the plene spelling in four places in Scripture, and this is one of them. The second is in Psalms (51:7): “Behold with iniquity (בְּעָווֹן) I was formed,” as it is explained in Leviticus Rabbah (14:5), in the section entitled: (Lev. 12:2): “If a woman conceives seed: Even if one be the most pious of the pious, it is impossible that he should have no streak of unintentional iniquity, because he intended only for his own pleasure.” The third is (Prov. 5:22): “His iniquities (עֲווֹנוֹתָיו) shall trap the wicked man,” meaning his many iniquities. The fourth is in II Kings (7:9): “... we will incur guilt (עָווֹן). Now let us go and come and relate this in the king’s palace.” They said, “If we do not go and tell this in the king’s palace, it will be a grave iniquity, because enemies will come upon them.”
Verse 13
I am greatly oppressed You tell me, “Choose the mildest of them — It is hard for me, and I am greatly oppressed about it.” This can be compared to a [sick] person, to whom people said, “Behold you are going to die. Now in which grave do you wish to be buried? Beside your father or beside your mother?” Woe to the ears that hear such a thing!
let me fall now into the hand of the Lord with the pestilence, in which all are equal, both rich and poor.
for His mercies are great Perhaps He will have compassion, but our enemies will not have compassion on us.
Verse 16
extended over Jerusalem In Joshua (5:13), it says — “... and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, etc. ’Are you for us or for our adversaries?” Joshua was standing with his back opposite his adversaries, and the angel came opposite him; therefore, he wondered and asked him, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” [Have you come] to help us since you are standing opposite me, or to help our enemies, because you are standing also opposite them? But here, since he saw the sword of the angel, which was extended over Jerusalem, he knew by himself that he had come to strike Israel.
Verse 17
but these sheep, what have they done for they are like sheep brought to the slaughter, who cannot be saved from slaughter because they are destined for it.
Verse 20
hid from the angel, to fulfill the verse (Isa — 26:20): “Go, My people, come into your chambers and close your door about you; hide for but a moment, until the wrath passes.” And Scripture also says (Exod. 12:22): “... as for you, none of you shall go out of his house until morning.”
and Ornan was threshing wheat since Scripture states further (verse 23) — “and the wheat for a meal offering,” lest you wonder how wheat was there.
Verse 23
and the threshing tools for [fire] wood [These are] boards with which they thresh the grain, as we learned in Avodah Zarah (24b): “A goat with hooks,” [which is the] name of a threshing-sledge, similar to (Isa. 41:15): “a new grooved threshing sledge (מוֹרַג חָרוּץ).”
Verse 25
shekels of gold, weighing six hundred but at the end of Samuel (II 24:24), it is written: “for fifty shekels of silver.” How is this possible? He took fifty shekels from each tribe, totaling six hundred shekels, so that all Israel should have a share in the altar.
Verse 27
And the Lord commanded the angel to return his sword, and the sword was returned to its sheath. Similar to this is (Jonah 2:11): “And the Lord said to the fish, and it spewed Jonah, etc.”
Verse 28
At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him This section was not written in II Samuel, but because of David’s honor, it was written here that he made an altar, and all the verses of this section are connected to one another, as if they were all one verse.
Verse 29
and the altar of the burnt offerings of Moses was still at that time in the high place, which was in Gibeon.
Verse 30
But David could not Then, when that incident occurred that the Holy One, blessed be He, commanded him to offer up a sacrifice, David could not go before it to inquire of God, i.e., before the altar that was in Gibeon.
because he was frightened by the sword of the angel of the Lord and David went according to the words of the Lord and built an altar, and the Lord answered him.

Edition: The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg. License: CC-BY. Sefaria.

Malbim's commentary

Verse 15
"As the Destroyer was about to destroy, ha-Shem saw" -- and commanded the Destroyer to relax their hand in order not to destroy David. For the Destroyer does not distinguish good from evil.

Edition: Sefaria Community Translation. License: CC0. Sefaria.

Original text

Verse 1

וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד שָׂטָ֖ן עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּ֙סֶת֙ אֶת־דָּוִ֔יד לִמְנ֖וֹת אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Satan arose against Israel and incited David to number Israel.

Verse 2

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֤יד אֶל־יוֹאָב֙ וְאֶל־שָׂרֵ֣י הָעָ֔ם לְכ֗וּ סִפְרוּ֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִבְּאֵ֥ר שֶׁ֖בַע וְעַד־דָּ֑ן וְהָבִ֣יאוּ אֵלַ֔י וְאֵדְעָ֖ה אֶת־מִסְפָּרָֽם׃

David said to Joab and to the commanders of the army, “Go and count Israel from Beer-sheba to Dan and bring me information as to their number.”

Verse 3

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֗ב יוֹסֵף֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה עַל־עַמּ֤וֹ׀כָּהֵם֙ מֵאָ֣ה פְעָמִ֔ים הֲלֹא֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כֻּלָּ֥ם לַאדֹנִ֖י לַעֲבָדִ֑ים לָ֣מָּה יְבַקֵּ֥שׁ זֹאת֙ אֲדֹנִ֔י לָ֛מָּה יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְאַשְׁמָ֖ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Joab answered, “May G OD increase the people a hundredfold; my lord king, are they not all subjects of my lord? Why should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?”

Verse 4

וּדְבַר־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ חָזַ֣ק עַל־יוֹאָ֑ב וַיֵּצֵ֣א יוֹאָ֗ב וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ֙ בְּכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיָּבֹ֖א יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

However, the king’s command to Joab remained firm, so Joab set out and traversed all Israel; he then came to Jerusalem.

Verse 5

וַיִּתֵּ֥ן יוֹאָ֛ב אֶת־מִסְפַּ֥ר מִפְקַד־הָעָ֖ם אֶל־דָּוִ֑יד וַיְהִ֣י כׇֽל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל אֶ֣לֶף אֲלָפִים֩ וּמֵאָ֨ה אֶ֤לֶף אִישׁ֙ שֹׁ֣לֵֽף חֶ֔רֶב וִיהוּדָ֕ה אַרְבַּע֩ מֵא֨וֹת וְשִׁבְעִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ שֹׁ֥לֵֽף־חָֽרֶב׃

Joab reported to David the number of the people that had been recorded. All Israel comprised 1,100,000 ready to draw the sword, while in Judah there were 470,000 ready to draw the sword.

Verse 6

וְלֵוִי֙ וּבִנְיָמִ֔ן לֹ֥א פָקַ֖ד בְּתוֹכָ֑ם כִּֽי־נִתְעַ֥ב דְּבַר־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶת־יוֹאָֽב׃

He did not record among them Levi and Benjamin, because the king’s command had become repugnant to Joab.

Verse 7

וַיֵּ֙רַע֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים עַל־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַיַּ֖ךְ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {ס}

God, being displeased about this matter, struck Israel.

Verse 8

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִיד֙ אֶל־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים חָטָ֣אתִֽי מְאֹ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וְעַתָּ֗ה הַֽעֲבֶר־נָא֙ אֶת־עֲו֣וֹן עַבְדְּךָ֔ כִּ֥י נִסְכַּ֖לְתִּי מְאֹֽד׃ {פ}

David said to God, “I have sinned grievously in having done this thing; please remit the guilt of Your servant, for I have acted foolishly.”

Verse 9

וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־גָּ֔ד חֹזֵ֥ה דָוִ֖יד לֵאמֹֽר׃

G OD ordered Gad, David’s seer:

Verse 10

לֵךְ֩ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֨ אֶל־דָּוִ֜יד לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה שָׁל֕וֹשׁ אֲנִ֖י נֹטֶ֣ה עָלֶ֑יךָ בְּחַר־לְךָ֛ אַחַ֥ת מֵהֵ֖נָּה וְאֶעֱשֶׂה־לָּֽךְ׃

“Go and tell David: Thus said G OD : I offer you three things; choose one of them and I will bring it upon you.”

Verse 11

וַיָּ֥בֹא גָ֖ד אֶל־דָּוִ֑יד וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֛וֹ כֹּה־אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה קַבֶּל־לָֽךְ׃

Gad came to David and told him, “Thus said G OD : Select for yourself

Verse 12

אִם־שָׁל֨וֹשׁ שָׁנִ֜ים רָעָ֗ב וְאִם־שְׁלֹשָׁ֨ה חֳדָשִׁ֜ים נִסְפֶּ֥ה מִפְּנֵֽי־צָרֶ֘יךָ֮ וְחֶ֣רֶב אוֹיְבֶ֣יךָ׀לְמַשֶּׂ֒גֶת֒ וְאִם־שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָ֠מִ֠ים חֶ֣רֶב יְהֹוָ֤ה וְדֶ֙בֶר֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּמַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה מַשְׁחִ֖ית בְּכׇל־גְּב֣וּל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְעַתָּ֣ה רְאֵ֔ה מָה־אָשִׁ֥יב אֶת־שֹׁלְחִ֖י דָּבָֽר׃ {ס}

a three-year famine; or that you be swept away three months before your adversaries with the sword of your enemies overtaking you; or three days of the sword of G OD , pestilence in the land, the angel of G OD wreaking destruction throughout the territory of Israel. Now consider what reply I shall take back to the One who sent me.”

Verse 13

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר דָּוִ֛יד אֶל־גָּ֖ד צַר־לִ֣י מְאֹ֑ד אֶפְּלָה־נָּ֣א בְיַד־יְהֹוָ֗ה כִּֽי־רַבִּ֤ים רַחֲמָיו֙ מְאֹ֔ד וּבְיַד־אָדָ֖ם אַל־אֶפֹּֽל׃

David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hands of G OD , whose compassion is very great; and let me not fall into human hands.”

Verse 14

וַיִּתֵּ֧ן יְהֹוָ֛ה דֶּ֖בֶר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּפֹּל֙ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שִׁבְעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף אִֽישׁ׃

G OD sent a pestilence upon Israel, and 70,000 fell in Israel.

Verse 15

וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ הָאֱלֹהִ֨ים׀מַלְאָ֥ךְ׀לִֽירוּשָׁלַ֘͏ִם֮ לְהַשְׁחִיתָהּ֒ וּכְהַשְׁחִ֗ית רָאָ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם עַל־הָרָעָ֔ה וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לַמַּלְאָ֤ךְ הַמַּשְׁחִית֙ רַ֔ב עַתָּ֖ה הֶ֣רֶף יָדֶ֑ךָ וּמַלְאַ֤ךְ יְהֹוָה֙ עֹמֵ֔ד עִם־גֹּ֖רֶן אׇרְנָ֥ן הַיְבוּסִֽי׃ {ס}

God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to wreak destruction, G OD saw and renounced further punishment and said to the destroying angel, “Enough! Stay your hand!” The angel of G OD was then standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Verse 16

וַיִּשָּׂ֨א דָוִ֜יד אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּ֞רְא אֶת־מַלְאַ֤ךְ יְהֹוָה֙ עֹמֵ֗ד בֵּ֤ין הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ וּבֵ֣ין הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְחַרְבּ֤וֹ שְׁלוּפָה֙ בְּיָד֔וֹ נְטוּיָ֖ה עַל־יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וַיִּפֹּ֨ל דָּוִ֧יד וְהַזְּקֵנִ֛ים מְכֻסִּ֥ים בַּשַּׂקִּ֖ים עַל־פְּנֵיהֶֽם׃

David looked up and saw the angel of G OD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand directed against Jerusalem. David and the elders, covered in sackcloth, threw themselves on their faces.

Verse 17

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֣יד אֶֽל־הָאֱלֹהִ֡ים הֲלֹא֩ אֲנִ֨י אָמַ֜רְתִּי לִמְנ֣וֹת בָּעָ֗ם וַאֲנִי־ה֤וּא אֲשֶׁר־חָטָ֙אתִי֙ וְהָרֵ֣עַ הֲרֵע֔וֹתִי וְאֵ֥לֶּה הַצֹּ֖אן מֶ֣ה עָשׂ֑וּ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהַ֗י תְּהִ֨י נָ֤א יָֽדְךָ֙ בִּ֚י וּבְבֵ֣ית אָבִ֔י וּֽבְעַמְּךָ֖ לֹ֥א לְמַגֵּפָֽה׃ {ס}

David said to God, “Was it not I alone who ordered the numbering of the people? I alone am guilty, and have caused severe harm; but these sheep, what have they done? O my E TERNAL God, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house, and let not Your people be plagued!”

Verse 18

וּמַלְאַ֧ךְ יְהֹוָ֛ה אָמַ֥ר אֶל־גָּ֖ד לֵאמֹ֣ר לְדָוִ֑יד כִּ֣י׀ יַעֲלֶ֣ה דָוִ֗יד לְהָקִ֤ים מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה בְּגֹ֖רֶן אׇרְנָ֥ן הַיְבֻסִֽי׃

The angel of G OD told Gad to inform David that David should go and set up an altar to G OD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Verse 19

וַיַּ֤עַל דָּוִיד֙ בִּדְבַר־גָּ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָֽה׃

David went up, following Gad’s instructions, which he had delivered in the name of G OD .

Verse 20

וַיָּ֣שׇׁב אׇרְנָ֗ן וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־הַמַּלְאָ֔ךְ וְאַרְבַּ֧עַת בָּנָ֛יו עִמּ֖וֹ מִֽתְחַבְּאִ֑ים וְאׇרְנָ֖ן דָּ֥שׁ חִטִּֽים׃

Ornan too saw the angel; his four sons who were with him hid themselves while Ornan kept on threshing wheat.

Verse 21

וַיָּבֹ֥א דָוִ֖יד עַד־אׇרְנָ֑ן וַיַּבֵּ֤ט אׇרְנָן֙ וַיַּ֣רְא אֶת־דָּוִ֔יד וַיֵּצֵא֙ מִן־הַגֹּ֔רֶן וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ לְדָוִ֛יד אַפַּ֖יִם אָֽרְצָה׃

David came to Ornan; when Ornan looked up, he saw David and came off the threshing floor and bowed low to David, with his face to the ground.

Verse 22

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜יד אֶל־אׇרְנָ֗ן תְּנָה־לִּי֙ מְק֣וֹם הַגֹּ֔רֶן וְאֶבְנֶה־בּ֥וֹ מִזְבֵּ֖חַ לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה בְּכֶ֤סֶף מָלֵא֙ תְּנֵ֣הוּ לִ֔י וְתֵעָצַ֥ר הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל הָעָֽם׃

David said to Ornan, “Sell me the site of the threshing floor, that I may build on it an altar to G OD . Sell it to me at the full price, that the plague against the people will be checked.”

Verse 23

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אׇרְנָ֤ן אֶל־דָּוִיד֙ קַֽח־לָ֔ךְ וְיַ֛עַשׂ אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ הַטּ֣וֹב בְּעֵינָ֑יו רְאֵה֩ נָתַ֨תִּי הַבָּקָ֜ר לָעֹל֗וֹת וְהַמּוֹרִגִּ֧ים לָעֵצִ֛ים וְהַחִטִּ֥ים לַמִּנְחָ֖ה הַכֹּ֥ל נָתָֽתִּי׃

Ornan said to David, “Take it and let my lord the king do whatever he sees fit. See, I donate oxen for burnt offerings, and the threshing boards for wood, as well as wheat for a grain offering—I donate all of it.”

Verse 24

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ דָּוִיד֙ לְאׇרְנָ֔ן לֹ֕א כִּֽי־קָנֹ֥ה אֶקְנֶ֖ה בְּכֶ֣סֶף מָלֵ֑א כִּ֠י לֹא־אֶשָּׂ֤א אֲשֶׁר־לְךָ֙ לַיהֹוָ֔ה וְהַעֲל֥וֹת עוֹלָ֖ה חִנָּֽם׃

But King David replied to Ornan, “No, I will buy them at the full price. I cannot make a present to G OD of what belongs to you, or sacrifice a burnt offering that has cost me nothing.”

Verse 25

וַיִּתֵּ֥ן דָּוִ֛יד לְאׇרְנָ֖ן בַּמָּק֑וֹם שִׁקְלֵ֣י זָהָ֔ב מִשְׁקָ֖ל שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃

So David paid Ornan for the site 600 shekels’ worth of gold.

Verse 26

וַיִּ֩בֶן֩ שָׁ֨ם דָּוִ֤יד מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה וַיַּ֥עַל עֹל֖וֹת וּשְׁלָמִ֑ים וַיִּקְרָא֙ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֔ה וַֽיַּעֲנֵ֤הוּ בָאֵשׁ֙ מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם עַ֖ל מִזְבַּ֥ח הָעֹלָֽה׃ {ס}

And David built there an altar to G OD and sacrificed burnt offerings and offerings of well-being. He invoked G OD , who answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offerings.

Verse 27

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ לַמַּלְאָ֔ךְ וַיָּ֥שֶׁב חַרְבּ֖וֹ אֶל־נְדָנָֽהּ׃

G OD ordered the angel to return his sword to its sheath.

Verse 28

בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא בִּרְא֤וֹת דָּוִיד֙ כִּֽי־עָנָ֣הוּ יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּגֹ֖רֶן אׇרְנָ֣ן הַיְבוּסִ֑י וַיִּזְבַּ֖ח שָֽׁם׃

At that time, when David saw that G OD answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there—

Verse 29

וּמִשְׁכַּ֣ן יְ֠הֹוָ֠ה אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֨ה מֹשֶׁ֧ה בַמִּדְבָּ֛ר וּמִזְבַּ֥ח הָעוֹלָ֖ה בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֑יא בַּבָּמָ֖ה בְּגִבְעֽוֹן׃

for the Tabernacle of G OD , which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offerings were at that time in the shrine at Gibeon,

Verse 30

וְלֹא־יָכֹ֥ל דָּוִ֛יד לָלֶ֥כֶת לְפָנָ֖יו לִדְרֹ֣שׁ אֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י נִבְעַ֔ת מִפְּנֵ֕י חֶ֖רֶב מַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}

and David was unable to go to it to worship God because he was terrified by the sword of the angel of G OD .

English translation: THE JPS TANAKH: Gender-Sensitive Edition · CC-BY-NC

I Chronicles 21

I Chronicles Chapter 21

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