Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

1 Chronicles 21

As this rehearsal makes no mention of David’s sin in the matter of Uriah, so neither of the troubles of his family that followed upon it; not a word of Absalom’s rebellion, or Sheba’s. But David’s sin, in numbering the people, is here related, because, in the atonement made for that sin, an intimation was given of the spot of ground on which the temple should be built. Here is, I. David’s sin, in forcing Joab to number the people, 1 Chronicles 21:1-21:6. II. David’s sorrow for what he had done, as soon as he perceived the sinfulness of it, 1 Chronicles 21:7, 21:8. III. The sad dilemma (or trilemma rather) he was brought to, when it was put to him to choose how he would be punished for this sin, and what rod he would be beaten with, 1 Chronicles 21:9-21:13. IV. The woeful havoc which was made by the pestilence in the country, and the narrow escape which Jerusalem had from being laid waste by it, 1 Chronicles 21:14-21:17. V. David’s repentance, and sacrifice, upon this occasion, and the staying of the plaque thereupon, 1 Chronicles 21:18-21:30. This awful story we met with, and meditated upon, 2 Samuel 24:1-24:25 MHBCC 360.1