Whodunnit?

Once again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he caused David to harm them by taking a census. “Go and count the people of Israel and Judah,” the LORD told him. [2 Samuel 24.1]

There is probably not enough time today to write all that could be said about this verse in the Bible. However, I feel compelled to express some thoughts that are helpful to me in understanding what has been said.

First of all, given at least two accounts of this verse and the story it is part of in the Bible, it is very clear that this 2 Samuel verse was certainly translated incorrectly. My basis for this is firm and deep. For starters, the 1 Chronicles version states it entirely differently. Instead of saying it was God who caused David to take the census, it says it was the devil.

In both instances of this event recorded in the Bible, Joab, David's army commander recognized that taking a census was wrong - so,this is another clue that it was not God Who told David to take the census - because God does no wrong!

But then, even further conclusive evidence that it was not God Who moved David to take the census, is found in the very same context of 2 Samuel (24.10) where David's conscience began to bother him. Why would David's conscience bother him if God told him to take the census? It wouldn't!

As even further evidence of God's innocence in this event (contrary to 2 Samuel 24.1), both contexts of the story in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles record David's repentance and confession that the plague was his fault.

The overwhelming "context" of the accounts of what actually took place in this event says that it was NOT God Who caused the census.

Father, I am grateful that, even with these ancient writings that are scattered at best, You have given us enough contextual information throughout to clearly understand the stories and their meaning for us. Thank You. You are good and Your faithful love endures forever!