2 samuel 24:9 - Joab gave up the sum of the counting of the people to the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
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What does "2 samuel 24:9" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 24:9 is part of the census David orders, a census that is later deemed sinful in the eyes of God (as described in the following verses). Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"Joab gave up the sum of the counting of the people to the king..." This means Joab, David's military commander, finished counting the people and reported the numbers to David. Joab was reluctant to do the census in the first place, indicating a degree of unease or disobedience regarding the order.
"...and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword..." This refers to the number of fighting-age men in the kingdom of Israel (the northern tribes). The phrase "who drew the sword" indicates men eligible for military service.
"...and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men." This refers to the number of fighting-age men in the kingdom of Judah (the southern tribe).
In Summary:
The verse reports the results of the census that David ordered. The totals were:
Israel (Northern Tribes): 800,000 men of fighting age
Judah (Southern Tribe): 500,000 men of fighting age
Significance and Context:
Military Strength: The verse provides an estimate of the available military manpower for David's kingdom at the time.
Sinful Census: More importantly, in the context of the larger narrative, the act of taking the census itself is seen as a sin. Possible reasons include:
David's Motive: It is implied that David's motive was pride in the size of his army and kingdom, rather than reliance on God.
Usurping God's Prerogative: Some interpret that only God has the right to number His people and that doing so without divine instruction was an act of arrogance.
Taxation and Conscription: Censuses were often linked to taxation and conscription, burdens that could lead to hardship and resentment among the people.
The story continues with God punishing David for the census, offering him a choice of three punishments (famine, war, or plague). David chooses the plague, which results in the death of many people. The story concludes with David offering a sacrifice to God to stop the plague.
The census story serves as a cautionary tale about pride, obedience to God, and the consequences of sin.
2 samuel 24:9 - Joab gave up the sum of the counting of the people to the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
What does "2 samuel 24:9" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 24:9 is part of the census David orders, a census that is later deemed sinful in the eyes of God (as described in the following verses). Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"Joab gave up the sum of the counting of the people to the king..." This means Joab, David's military commander, finished counting the people and reported the numbers to David. Joab was reluctant to do the census in the first place, indicating a degree of unease or disobedience regarding the order.
"...and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword..." This refers to the number of fighting-age men in the kingdom of Israel (the northern tribes). The phrase "who drew the sword" indicates men eligible for military service.
"...and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men." This refers to the number of fighting-age men in the kingdom of Judah (the southern tribe).
In Summary:
The verse reports the results of the census that David ordered. The totals were:
Israel (Northern Tribes): 800,000 men of fighting age
Judah (Southern Tribe): 500,000 men of fighting age
Significance and Context:
Military Strength: The verse provides an estimate of the available military manpower for David's kingdom at the time.
Sinful Census: More importantly, in the context of the larger narrative, the act of taking the census itself is seen as a sin. Possible reasons include:
David's Motive: It is implied that David's motive was pride in the size of his army and kingdom, rather than reliance on God.
Usurping God's Prerogative: Some interpret that only God has the right to number His people and that doing so without divine instruction was an act of arrogance.
Taxation and Conscription: Censuses were often linked to taxation and conscription, burdens that could lead to hardship and resentment among the people.
The story continues with God punishing David for the census, offering him a choice of three punishments (famine, war, or plague). David chooses the plague, which results in the death of many people. The story concludes with David offering a sacrifice to God to stop the plague.
The census story serves as a cautionary tale about pride, obedience to God, and the consequences of sin.