2 Samuel 24 6

2 Samuel 24:6 kjv

Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,

2 Samuel 24:6 nkjv

Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi; they came to Dan Jaan and around to Sidon;

2 Samuel 24:6 niv

They went to Gilead and the region of Tahtim Hodshi, and on to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon.

2 Samuel 24:6 esv

Then they came to Gilead, and to Kadesh in the land of the Hittites; and they came to Dan, and from Dan they went around to Sidon,

2 Samuel 24:6 nlt

then to Gilead in the land of Tahtim-hodshi and to Dan-jaan and around to Sidon.

2 Samuel 24 verses

2 Samuel 24 6 Meaning

This verse meticulously outlines the route taken by Joab and his officers as they executed King David's census across Israel and Judah. It details their journey from east of the Jordan, into the northern reaches, and then westward towards the Phoenician border, emphasizing the extensive scope and thoroughness of the controversial numbering process.

2 Samuel 24 6 Context

The census described in 2 Samuel 24 is one of the most puzzling narratives in David's reign. It takes place towards the end of his life, following a series of traumatic events including his sin with Bathsheba, the death of Uriah, and the rebellion of Absalom. The chapter opens by stating that "the anger of the Lord burned against Israel," implying an unmentioned transgression, leading Him to incite David to number Israel and Judah. While God commanded previous censuses (e.g., in Numbers) for specific purposes, this particular census appears to stem from David's pride or a desire to rely on human strength rather than God's covenant promises.

Joab, David's military commander, vehemently opposed the census, recognizing its inherent wrongness or the dangerous implications. Despite Joab's protest, David's command prevailed. This verse specifically details the extensive geographical route Joab and his men took, signifying the thoroughness of their task and the broad extent of David's kingdom. The census, which took nine months and twenty days, culminates in divine judgment upon Israel, in the form of a plague that claims seventy thousand lives. This event ultimately leads to David's repentance, the building of an altar, and the purchase of the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, a site later consecrated for the building of Solomon's Temple.

2 Samuel 24 6 Word analysis

• They came (וַיָּבֹאוּ - wayyabo’u): A simple past tense verb, indicating the active progression of Joab and the census officials on their long and arduous journey. It underscores the compliance with David's command despite Joab's misgivings.

• to Gilead (אֶל־הַגִּלְעָד - ’el-ha-gil‘ad): Refers to a region east of the Jordan River, primarily inhabited by the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Known for its fertile pastures and strategic importance. The mention implies the census team crossed the Jordan from the west, beginning their count in Transjordanian Israel.

• and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi (וְאֶל־אֶרֶץ תַּחְתִּים חָדְשִׁי - w'el-'eretz Takhtim Khavshī): This is one of the more obscure geographical references.

  • Tahtim (תַּחְתִּים) means "lower parts" or "below."
  • Hodshi (חָדְשִׁי) is difficult and has various interpretations: "new," "monthly," or a specific place name. Possible interpretations include "the newly inhabited lowlands" or "the lower region of Hodshi." Its exact location is debated, possibly in Gilead or Bashan. The ambiguity suggests a region possibly less significant or newly incorporated, yet still meticulously included in David's count, underscoring the comprehensive nature of the census.

• and they came (וַיָּבֹאוּ - wayyabo’u): The repetition of "they came" highlights the continuity and methodical progression of their journey, marking the transition to the next leg of their expansive route.

• to Dan-jaan (אֶל־דָּן יַעַן - ’el-Dan ya‘an): Often understood as "to Dan" with "Jaan" either an epithet, a specific district, or a scribal variant. Dan was a prominent city located at the far northern boundary of Israel. It was originally named Laish, settled and renamed by the tribe of Dan (Judg 18). It frequently marked the northernmost limit of the land (e.g., "from Dan to Beersheba"). Its inclusion shows the census reached the extreme northern borders. Dan was also notable for being a site of idolatry (Judg 18; 1 Kgs 12).

• and around to Sidon (וְסָבִיב לְצִידֹן - w'savīv lə-Tzīdōn):

  • Saviv (סָבִיב) means "around," "circuitously," or "in the vicinity of."
  • Sidon was a major ancient Phoenician city on the Mediterranean coast, north of Tyre, known for its powerful maritime trade and pagan worship. It lay outside the direct tribal boundaries of Israel but was a significant city near Israel's northern border, and perhaps within David's broader sphere of influence or control through alliances/tribute. The phrase "around to Sidon" likely means they surveyed the Israelite territories extending to the region near Sidon, rather than directly entering and numbering the Sidonian inhabitants themselves. This further signifies the full geographic reach of David's ambition.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "They came to Gilead...and they came to Dan-jaan": This sequence clearly illustrates the east-west and south-to-north movement of the census, covering territories both across the Jordan and into the very northern tip of what was considered Israelite land or under David's dominion. This establishes the census's extensive reach.
  • "to the land of Tahtim-hodshi, and... to Sidon": The inclusion of an obscure place like "Tahtim-hodshi" along with a powerful Phoenician city like "Sidon" suggests that the census was not limited to clearly defined Israelite tribal lands but also encompassed border regions, areas under indirect influence, or even newly integrated territories. This broad scope amplifies the perceived scale of David's kingdom, a potential source of pride that led to the census.

2 Samuel 24 6 Bonus section

• The total time taken for the census was nine months and twenty days (2 Sam 24:8), indicating the sheer scope and difficulty of covering all the listed regions and beyond, underscoring the determination with which David's controversial command was carried out.
• The progression from Gilead (east) to Dan (north) and then Sidon (west) shows a zigzagging or circular path. While 2 Sam 24:7 indicates they returned to the strongholds of Tyre, it seems the order was to include the furthest northern reaches, even touching regions bordering pagan nations. This systematic covering of all territories highlights David's exhaustive effort to gauge his human resources, likely out of a desire for national security or glory.
• The precise geographical listing serves as a stark reminder of Israel's covenant boundaries and the regions granted by God, yet in this instance, these very boundaries become the stage for David's error in relying on human accounting rather than divine providence.

2 Samuel 24 6 Commentary

2 Samuel 24:6, though primarily a geographic description, serves a crucial role in the narrative of David's census and subsequent judgment. It details the painstaking journey undertaken by Joab and his men, covering a vast expanse of territory, starting east of the Jordan in Gilead, venturing into the enigmatic region of Tahtim-hodshi, swinging northward to the ancient boundary city of Dan, and extending west to the vicinity of the powerful Phoenician city of Sidon. This itinerary is more than a simple travel log; it highlights the impressive geographical reach of David's kingdom at its zenith.

However, this detailed mapping implicitly underscores the human desire to quantify and boast in earthly power. David's census was not commanded by God (unlike previous ones for military organization or tribal registration), but rather sprang from a motivation, perhaps pride or a misplaced reliance on numbers, that ran contrary to God's nature. The extensive and comprehensive nature of the census, extending to every remote and bordering territory, accentuates the completeness of David's act, which sought to enumerate his subjects as a testament to his strength rather than acknowledging God as the true source of Israel's might. The journey's length also emphasizes Joab's obedient yet reluctant thoroughness, fulfilling the king's problematic command down to its far-flung boundaries. This census, described in part by this verse, ultimately brought judgment upon the nation, setting the stage for David's repentance and the sacred act of establishing the future temple site on Araunah's threshing floor.