The Message Remains Untouched.

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]

Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel. [1 Chronicles 21.1]

There is no small difficulty in reconciling the two passages above!

However! There is hope of understanding these conflicting statements in the context of the circumstances and the narrative following:

But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him. And he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, LORD, for doing this foolish thing.” [2 Samuel 24.10]

God was very displeased with the census, and he punished Israel for it. Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt for doing this foolish thing.” [1 Chronicles 21.7-8]

When there is doubt about something in the Bible, it makes perfect sense to allow the Bible to explain itself! In fact, the follow-up passages detailing David's repentance in both 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles indicate comprehensibly that David acted outside the will of God and therefore necessarily repented for his actions.

So, why does 2 Samuel offer its conflicting message? My opinion is that the translation might be incomplete. However, if indeed the original language manuscript is consistent with the translation of 2 Samuel 24.1, then my opinion shifts to think a faulty manuscript from which the original language was translated (as there are no original manuscripts in existence today) might be the culprit.

Regardless of the cause for the conflicting message of 2 Samuel 24.1, there is more than enough Bible evidence following the passage in question to clear up any misunderstanding. As a matter of fact and practice, I have learned to handle all such "conflicts" in the Bible similarly. All one has to do is READ the Bible to realize that the "story" remains intact. God's Message of Redemption for the world transcends all translation difficulties or manuscript conflicts and remains untouched. Consequently, I have no issue with the foundational belief that the Bible is inerrant.

Father, thank You for allowing me to become more knowledgeable of Your Word, the Bible, so as to be increasingly less alarmed when I see "conflicts." I am grateful for the overriding and undeniable message of Your Love and Forgiveness detailed from Genesis through Revelation!