Why was God so angry at David for taking the census? | GotQuestions.org

What was wrong with David’s census? Why was God so angry at David for taking the census? And, who incite David to take the Old Testament census we read about in 2 Samuel 24 and in 1 Chronicles 21? Did God or Satan incite David to take the census… or was it someone else? In this video, Pastor Nelson with Bible Munch answers the question, “Why was God so angry at David for taking the census”.

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[MilesStoner]

God was angry at David for taking the census because it implied that David was trusting his own strength instead of trusting in the power of God. The census was also seen as a sign of pride, as it was a way of showing off the size of David's army and kingdom. It was also a sin of presumption, as it was a way of questioning God's ability to protect and provide for his people.

[productamadeus]

Got Questions has SUPER SOLID theology. They are always just plain scripture! Thanks you all!

[jaybee]

Thank you for clarifying this contradiction for me. I’ve seen how other supposed contradictions of the Bible are easily resolved but this was one that I couldn’t figure out. Now I understand the issue comes from the original translation from Hebrew to English.

I feel sorry for people like Jimmy who only see the fallen world we live in and blame God when it is man’s sinful nature that has wrought all the evil we see and experience. Praying for your scales to be lifted from your eyes, Jimmy.

[camillewilliams]

I was studying this chapter of Chronicles and 2 Samuel last night and I really appreciated the explanation from GotQuestion. This particular account is one of those confusing ones. But not enough to shake my faith. This account shows the issues translators face and YET we have such reliable translations. God is good.

[TheWanderingWheels]

The Bible does not tell us every little detail of each story, and it really does put our faith to the test when we have to trust that the Almighty God IS merciful and just in all His ways. I think there very well could be lots of missing details here: like maybe if Satan tempted David, it doesn't say HOW he tempted him, like maybe Satan used the people to come against David and to pressure him into taking a census. I say this because in the chronological order of the Bible, there are Psalms written by David right after talking about how people make fun of him and how they are surrounding him on all sides and that they are sinful. If the people were involved in the decision to take the Census, all of the punishments God offered make sense because they all involve the people as well as David. It could be that the 70, 000 killed in the plague were the same people involved in the rebellion. Also, God says that His anger burned against ISRAEL, not just David, hinting that this was a group crime. I imagine the nation was getting braggy, since they just demolished a bunch of other groups of people in war, and wanted to know just how amazing and large their army was as a flex to other nations.

This is just my take, it may not be the case at all, but whatever the reason, we know that Yahweh is a just judge, and he knows the heart of people, and he does not punish without cause. These things we can be sure of ❤

[deborahthompson]

Thank you soo much for sharing God's word. You explained this to my level of understanding.

[athinirathebe]

Thank you for explaining this so well.

[atulofau]

This story is not that easy to explain actually.
Let see it from David's perspective.
He did not complain about it, yet he repented from doing thing.
Did he ask God before he did it?
Where was the idea of doing the census come from?
is it from God or from David himself or from another one?

You know sometimes we do something that we think is right, and it leads us into difficulties.
Why?
Because the thing we assume as a right thing might not line up with God's plan to us.

But David knew it, and he accepted the punishments. And he stayed faithful even after the punishments.
why?
He did not rebel against God due to the punishment that we think is not fair.
why?
There might something up to the census. The thing behind the census is the reason.

God bless us

[wqwwqwqqpoppopoo]

If you put on some glasses you would look almost identical to Mike Winger

[kspades]

4:52 and definitely perhaps the fact that by requesting a human king they rejected the LORD as their King, Samuel 8:7, which was a sin in itself, no wonder Israel's monarchy was filled with many evil kings and wayyyy less good kings (and even they had fallen at times). Glory be to God for the King of kings and the Lord of lord's Jesus Christ!!!

[drrobertkibagendi]

God hates the pride and loves the humble. That moment we shift our reliance from God to our ability, then you know how God is a jealous God.
Even with this, His love endures forever.

[kenarrington]

Appreciate your explanation as it as extremely helpful in helping me understand this chapter.

[black-cross]

But also people forget: Who said David's punishment was over for what he did to Uriah?
And God seems to know that the worst punishment for David would be take people away from him due to his actions, like when God killed David's and Bathseeba's firstborn. This is all speculation

[johnalexir]

This story is trouble for those who still think the bible has no contradictions. "And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah." (KJV). You really have to get creative to argue that "he" in the quote above is anyone other than God. If it is someone else, then why would it not say so? It would be sloppy, ambiguous writing, at best (unless it's deliberately confusing which would pose other problems). The inconvenient fact is that in the Samuel chapter, God causes the census, and in the Chronicles passage, Satan does. This isn't like in Job where the "God sometimes uses Satan" agument may work (though even there it has its problems). It's a contradiction - two separate (and presumably opposed) beings said to cause the SAME event.

[texican]

I think the better question would be, why would god punish the innocent for the sins of another?

[joshleonaherndon]

I’ve been struggling with this passage not because of the contradiction but because of the fact that God moved David to commit the sin and then punished all of Israel including innocent children…He killed 70, 000 people and then repented of it and stopped the angels and that was mercy?

I’m really struggling with the character of God on this one…God has forgiven murder and asks us to forgive 70x7 but just for a simple numbering of the people God kills 70, 000 people?

I’m having so much doubt because of the contradiction to Gods character of omniscience and mercy and forgiveness and what He asks us to do and I can’t get past it…I don’t know how.

[joseymaz]

so that's why the census was so wrong. I was very confused

[heron]

Why would counting your soldiers be a sin? I don’t understand anything help

[zabrinafrancis]

Just a note: David left the option up to God and God chose to kill the 70, 000.

[chapmaned]

God does NOT have to COMMAND David to take a census. Exodus 30 does not COMMAND Moses to take a count, either. IT states WHEN you take a census, not TAKE A CENSUS. And 2 Samuel 24, God "moved" David to take a count, not God commanded David to take a count.

God's anger was with Israel, not David.


But there are DIFFERENCES between the 2 accounts. They are not the same account.


For example:
In 2 Samuel 24:13, God gave David 3 choices of punishment:
*1. 7 *(SEVEN) years famine, or
**2. 3 years *(YEARS) fleeing from enemies, or
3. 3 days pestilence

But in 1 Chronicles 21:12 God also gave David 3 choices of punishment:
*1. 3*(THREE) years famine, or
**2. 3 months *(MONTHS) overtaken by enemies
3. 3 days pestilence

That's a major difference, not to mention the other differences in the census, as well as the CURRENCY and amount needed for the THRESHING FLOOR in order to STOP the pestilence.

Threshing Floor (Belonging to Ornan) 1 Chronicles 21:25: *600 Shekels of Gold.
Threshing Floor (Belonging to Araunah) 2 Samuel 22:24: **50 shekels of Silver.

My reference is the KJV, but I do know, and am aware of other versions of the Bible, such as the NIV, which makes everything the SAME account. For example...2 Samuel 24:13 shows THREE YEARS FAMINE instead of SEVEN, which would make both accounts the same...except for the currency and amount, and who the threshing floor belonged to. Those are still different, reflecting the same as the KJV.

Having said all that...Numbering the people is NOT the sin.

1 John 3:4 states that sin is the transgression of the law [of Moses].
Romans 3:20 states that the law [of Moses] is the knowledge of sin.

So, we have to take it back to the law of Moses in order to determine WHAT the sin actually is.

Exodus 30:11-16
11 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

12 When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.

NOTE: DID YOU SEE THE WORD PLAGUE IN VERSE 12?

13 This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the Lord.

14 Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the Lord.

15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls.

16 And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls.

Numbering the people is not the sin. Neglecting to COLLECT MONEY FROM THE PEOPLE COUNTED is the sin.