1 Chronicles 21 1

1 Chronicles 21:1 kjv

And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

1 Chronicles 21:1 nkjv

Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.

1 Chronicles 21:1 niv

Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.

1 Chronicles 21:1 esv

Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.

1 Chronicles 21:1 nlt

Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel.

1 Chronicles 21 verses

1 Chronicles 21 1 Meaning

First Chronicles 21:1 records a pivotal event in the life of King David, marking a departure from his reliance on God. It states that "Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to number Israel." This verse introduces a direct spiritual adversary, Satan, as the instigator of David's sin, leading him to conduct a census without divine command. This action demonstrated a misplaced trust in human strength and numbers rather than God's unfailing provision and protection, thereby provoking divine displeasure and bringing severe consequences upon the nation.

1 Chronicles 21 1 Context

This verse initiates the account of David's unlawful census, which appears primarily in 1 Chronicles 21 and its parallel in 2 Samuel 24. In the broader narrative of 1 Chronicles, this event takes place towards the end of David's reign, preceding the detailed preparations for the temple construction. The book of Chronicles, written for a post-exilic audience, emphasizes God's faithfulness to His covenant with David, the importance of the temple and proper worship, and the lineage of the kings. By specifically naming "Satan" as the instigator, the Chronicler highlights the spiritual dimension of evil and God's allowance of it, while still underscoring human responsibility for choices made under such influence. This perspective serves as a profound lesson for a nation that had experienced exile, prompting reflection on their historical failures rooted in disobedience and trust issues. The context reveals that although David had experienced much success and blessing from God, a moment of weakness or pride could still lead to catastrophic consequences. The act of numbering was a sin not in itself (God had commanded censuses before, e.g., in Numbers), but because it was done without divine sanction, likely stemming from pride in his military might or an ambition to further tax his people, showing a reliance on human power rather than the divine covenant.

1 Chronicles 21 1 Word analysis

• Then (וַיַּעֲמֹד - vayyaʿamōd): This initial word marks a sequence of events. It is a simple temporal conjunction but here implies a shift in narrative focus, introducing the direct cause of the ensuing crisis.
• Satan (שָׂטָן - Satan): Original Language (Hebrew): Satan (שָׂטָן) is a common noun meaning "adversary" or "accuser." With the definite article (הַשָּׂטָן - hasSatan, "the adversary" or "the Satan"), as implied by the Chronicler's specific reference, it denotes the personal, malevolent spiritual being, the chief antagonist of God and humanity. Significance: This is a crucial distinction from 2 Samuel 24:1, which states that "the anger of the LORD incited David." The Chronicler, writing at a later time, offers a more developed theological understanding of the origin of evil and temptation. It suggests that while God remains sovereign and may permit actions (even evil ones) to achieve His ultimate purposes or to test His people, the direct impetus for sin comes from an opposing, evil spiritual force. This interpretation removes God from being the direct source of malicious temptation, highlighting His righteous character. Polemics: This might indirectly counter any deterministic views that would make God solely responsible for all actions, good or evil, thereby affirming human responsibility while recognizing the real external forces of evil.
• stood up against (וַיַּעֲמֹד עִמְּדָם - vayyaʿamōd ʿimmādam): This phrase emphasizes direct, hostile opposition. Vayyaʿamod (he stood) often signifies a prepared stance for action, while ʿimmādam (against them, or implying a position facing them with hostile intent) denotes opposition. It describes an aggressive, active stance, not merely a passive presence.
• Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yiśrāʾēl): Refers to the collective nation of God's covenant people. Satan's antagonism is directed at the entire community, not just David personally, underscoring the communal impact of leadership's sin.
• and incited (וַיָּסֶת - vayyāset): Original Language (Hebrew): The verb sāthath (סָתַת) means "to incite," "instigate," "allure," or "lead astray." It implies active persuasion, often with deceptive or negative intent. Significance: This is a powerful verb for temptation. It implies that David was not forced, but rather cleverly manipulated or persuaded. While Satan incited, David was still capable of choice, and therefore bore responsibility for yielding to the incitement. It reveals the cunning nature of the tempter.
• David (דָוִיד - Dāwīd): The beloved king, a man "after God's own heart." Even he, despite his devotion and spiritual insight, was susceptible to incitement by Satan, highlighting the vulnerability of all humans to sin, regardless of their piety or position. His fallibility provides a universal warning.
• to number (לִמְנוֹת - limnôth): The infinitive construct of the verb mānâh (מָנָה), meaning "to count" or "to number." Significance: The act of taking a census in itself was not always wrong (e.g., Num 1, Num 26, where God commanded it). The sin lay in David's motive, or the manner in which it was done. It was likely a demonstration of pride in his military might and reliance on human strength, possibly to assess potential conscripts for a standing army, rather than an act of trust in God's provision and protection. This reflected a departure from God-centric leadership towards self-reliance.
• Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yiśrāʾēl): The people of the nation again. They were the object of David's counting, which implied counting their strength, and they also suffered the consequences of the king's sin.

• "Satan stood up against Israel and incited David": This phrase clearly delineates Satan's dual strategy: an overarching animosity towards God's people ("against Israel") coupled with a specific attack targeting the leadership ("incited David"). This illustrates how the enemy often attacks the head to bring down the body, seeking to disrupt God's purposes for the community by corrupting its leader. This also sets the stage for a dramatic conflict, moving beyond mere human failings to acknowledge a spiritual warfare dimension.
• "to number Israel": This phrase summarizes the specific sinful act. It represents a subtle form of sin—an administrative action, rather than an obvious transgression—yet one deeply rooted in a spiritual defect (pride, lack of faith). It suggests that not all "sins" are overt violations; some are born of inward attitudes and reliance on self rather than God. This also alludes to the practical consequences of this action, revealing the vast number of potential soldiers, yet also signaling the vanity of relying on such numbers apart from God's blessing.

1 Chronicles 21 1 Bonus section

The discrepancy between 1 Chronicles 21:1 and 2 Samuel 24:1, where one names "Satan" and the other "the anger of the LORD" as the inciter, is a significant interpretive point. Many biblical scholars reconcile these accounts by understanding God's "incitement" in 2 Samuel as God allowing or permitting Satan to tempt David as part of His sovereign plan, possibly to judge Israel's ongoing sinfulness. The Chronicler, writing in a later period, might have provided this explicit detail about Satan to offer a more nuanced theological understanding of evil, ensuring that God is not depicted as directly instigating sin. This highlights the concept that God can use even evil for His ultimate righteous purposes without being the author of that evil. This event is a foundational narrative showing that even a census, an administrative act, can become sinful when motivated by a spirit contrary to divine trust and humility. It teaches that motives are as crucial as the action itself in God's eyes.

1 Chronicles 21 1 Commentary

1 Chronicles 21:1 offers a concise yet profound insight into the nature of temptation and sin, attributing David's ill-fated census to Satan's direct incitement. This theological clarification, especially when contrasted with 2 Samuel 24:1's "anger of the LORD incited David," underscores the Chronicler's emphasis on God's holiness and His distinctness from the origin of evil. While God, in His ultimate sovereignty, permits spiritual adversaries to act, the immediate impulse to sin originates from Satan. David, despite his exemplary faith in many areas, succumbs to this incitement, likely out of a prideful desire to rely on his kingdom's military strength rather than fully trusting in divine protection. This act of numbering the people without divine command or atonement ritual (as stipulated in Ex 30:12) was a serious breach of faith. It serves as a sober reminder that even great leaders and devout individuals are susceptible to the subtle machinations of evil, and that choices borne of human pride lead to severe consequences for the individual and the community. The narrative is thus a potent warning against self-reliance and an affirmation of the reality of spiritual warfare impacting human decisions.