Who inspired David to take a census ???

[Carl Emerson]

Hi there,

David decided to count the Israelites.

Who urged him to do this ???

We read it was 'The Lord' in 2 Sam 24...

Yet 1 Chron 21 says Satan moved David to do it....

Which is it - and can you explain this apparent contradiction.

 

[Wansvic]

Hi there,

David decided to count the Israelites.

Who urged him to do this ???

We read it was 'The Lord' in 2 Sam 24...

Yet 1 Chron 21 says Satan moved David to do it....

Which is it - and can you explain this apparent contradiction.

Thanks for bringing this up. I became curious upon reading your post and did some research. I believe the commentary information sheds light on the topic. Proving once again there is no contradiction in God's word.

1 Chronicles 21:1
The difficulty in reconciling the statement here, "Satan provoked David," etc. with that of Samuel, "the Lord moved David," etc. (2 Sam 24:1) is not serious. All temptation is permitted by God. When evil spirits tempt us, they do so by permission (Job 1:12; 2:6; Luke 22:31, etc.). If Satan therefore provoked David to number the peopIe, God allowed him. And what God allows, He may be said to do. (Another view is maintained in the 2 Sam 24:1 note). (Barnes)

1 Chronicles 21:1-7
No contradiction is here for the Lord simply let Satan tempt David to undertake the census, much as He permitted Satan to attack Job (cf. Job 1:12 and comments on 2 Sam 24:1-3). In His sovereignty God's ultimate authority extends even to the workings of Satan. David's immediate purpose was to assess his military strength (1 Chron 21:5). This incurred divine displeasure because it suggested that he was relying more on military capabilities than on God's power. Probably that is why David admitted that his action was sin (v. 8).
(from Bible Knowledge Commentary)

1 Chronicles 21:1-6
We are sure that God is not the author of sin—he tempts no man; and therefore, when it is said that he moved David to do it, it must be explained by what is intimated here, that, for wise and holy ends, he permitted the devil to do it.
(from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

 

[Carl Emerson]

what God allows, He may be said to do.

This claim is incorrect. God is not the author of evil.


What Satan does is from his free will.

One scripture says God, another Scripture says Satan. This is the issue.

 

[Rose_bud]

This is an interesting topic, and there is no contradiction. I think the different authors of 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles may have had different perspectives on the event.

What may also be of interest is the dating of the two narratives. Scholars usually date 2 Samuel prior to the exile and 1 Chronicles after.

I think @Paleouss has mentioned that he has or is doing some research on the impact of spiritual beings (angels, demons) on Jewish culture and its influence on their perspectives.

A possible observation from these two narratives and the dating may be the Babylonian impact on how Jews viewed spiritual entities and their activity in the lives of Gods people.

In addition, the author in Chronicles may also be highlighting David's pride, drawing a parallel to that of Satan who fell because of pride. Whereas the author of Samuel, highlights Gods intervention in dealing with that pride.
The issue was not the census, it was that the victory was the Lords. Not military might, but by the Spirit. A perspective that underscores humility and Gods sovereinty in dealing with Israel. According to Exodus 30:11-16 people were to pay half shekel should a census be taken for maintenance of the tent of meeting with the consequences of a plague should they not. Interestingly the options given by Gad had three judgements. The one David chose lined up with the passage in Exodus, he may have realized his disobedience to the Law and sought to align himself with it. As God's way was the better option and to fall on his judgements was mercy.

 

[Wansvic]

This claim is incorrect. God is not the author of evil.


What Satan does is from his free will.

One scripture says God, another Scripture says Satan. This is the issue.

When read in context the point is the Lord simply let Satan tempt David to undertake the census, much as He permitted Satan to attack Job.

 

[Carl Emerson]

When read in context the point is the Lord simply let Satan tempt David to undertake the census, much as He permitted Satan to attack Job.

Yes - we know from the following passage that God appoints angels to deceive.

Which begs the question as to if Satan was given the job...

1 Kings 22

I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; 20 and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ 23 Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.”

 

[Bob Crowley]

There is one interpretation at this link.

Who Called David’s Census—God or Satan?

At first sight, David’s census, which is recorded for us in 2 Samuel 24 and in 1 Chronicles 21, provides one of the more obvious “contradictions” in the Bible.

learn.ligonier.org

I think we first need to note the difference in modern census taking and that of the time of David. As the author states ".... the primary reason in ancient times to undertake a census was to establish the size of army a ruler could depend on in a conflict. However, David was supposed to be trusting in the Lord, not in the size of his army."

These days a census has a different emphasis and is often used in civic planning. When David took his census, he wouldn't have been planning how many miles of sewers and water pipes, roads and bridges the population needed. He'd have been interested in military age males.

The temptation for David was political hubris. God would not have tempted David Himself, but He can and does allow the devil to tempt us.

Together, these passages make an important theological point: the Lord is ultimately in control of all temptations that come to us—and of those to which we give in. In Luke 22:31–32, Jesus told Peter that Satan desired to sift him like wheat—that is, to subject Peter to severe temptation. However, Jesus prayed for Peter—not that he wouldn’t be tempted or wouldn’t sin, but that his temptation and failure would not destroy his faith.