TRV
Translation
King James Version
So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.
Berean Standard Bible
So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead.
American Standard Version
So Jehovah sent a pestilence upon Israel; and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.
World English Bible Messianic
So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel; and seventy thousand men of Israel fell.
Geneva Bible (1599)
So the Lord sent a pestilence in Israel, and there fell of Israel seuentie thousande men.
Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah giveth a pestilence in Israel, and there fall of Israel seventy thousand men,
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In the KJVVerse 10,949 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 21 verses 7–17
7 ¶ And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.
8 And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
9 And the LORD spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying,
10 Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
11 So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Choose thee
12 Either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.
13 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.
14 So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.
15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.
17 And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.
David is here under the rod for numbering the people, that rod of correction which drives out the foolishness that is bound up in the heart, the foolishness of pride. Let us briefly observe,
I. How he was corrected. If God's dearest children do amiss, they must expect to smart for it. 1. He is given to understand that God is displeased; and that it is no small uneasiness to so good a man as David, Ch1 21:7. God takes notice of, and is displeased with, the sins of his people; and no sin is more displeasing to him than pride of heart: nor is anything more humbling, and grieving, and mortifying to a gracious soul, than to see itself under God's displeasure. 2. He is put to his choice whether he will be punished by war, famine, or pestilence; for punished he must be, and by one of these. Thus, for his further humiliation, he is put into a strait, a great strait, and has the terror of all the three judgments impressed upon his mind, no doubt to his great amazement, while he is considering which he shall choose. 3. He hears of 70,000 of his subjects who in a few hours were struck dead by the pestilence, Ch1 21:14. He was proud of the multitude of his people, but divine Justice took a course to make them fewer. Justly is that taken from us, weakened, or embittered to us, which we are proud of. David must have the people numbered: Bring me the number of them, says he, that I may know it. But now God numbers them after another manner, numbers to the sword, Isa 65:12. And David had another number of them brought, more to his confusion than was to his satisfaction, namely, the number of the slain - a black bill of mortality, which is a drawback to his muster-roll. 4. He sees the destroying angel, with his sword drawn against Jerusalem, Ch1 21:16. This could not but be very terrible to him, as it was a visible indication of the anger of Heaven, and threatened the utter destruction of that beloved city. Pestilences make the greatest devastations in the most populous places. The sight of an angel, though coming peaceably and on a friendly errand, has made even mighty men to tremble; how dreadful then must this sight be of an angel with a drawn sword in his hand, a flaming sword, like that of the cherubim, which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life! While we lie under the wrath of God the holy angels are armed against us, though we see them not as David did.
II. How he bore the correction. 1. He made a very penitent confession of his sin, and prayed earnestly for the pardon of it, Ch1 21:8. Now he owned that he had sinned, had sinned greatly, had done foolishly, very foolishly; and he entreated that, however he might be corrected for it, the iniquity of it might be done away. 2. He accepted the punishment of his iniquity: "Let thy hand be on me, and on my father's house, Ch1 21:17. I submit to the rod, only let me be the sufferer, for I am the sinner; mine is the guilty head at which the sword should be pointed." 3. He cast himself upon the mercy of God (though he knew he was angry with him) and did not entertain any hard thoughts of him. However it be, Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are great, Ch1 21:13. Good men, even when God frowns upon them, think well of him. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. 4. He expressed a very tender concern for the people, and it went to his heart to see them plagued for his transgression: These sheep, what have they done?
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 7–17. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
1 Chronicles 21:14 records the devastating immediate consequence of King David's disobedient census of Israel: a divinely sent pestilence that claimed the lives of seventy thousand men. This verse starkly illustrates the severe and widespread repercussions of sin, particularly the pride and lack of trust in God demonstrated by a leader, underscoring God's unwavering justice and sovereignty in executing judgment upon His people.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: This verse serves as the direct and harrowing fulfillment of the judgment chosen by King David after his egregious sin of numbering Israel. The narrative commences in 1 Chronicles 21:1 with the inciting action attributed to Satan, which prompts David to command a census of the fighting men. This act, however, was not divinely authorized and deeply displeased God, as explicitly stated in 1 Chronicles 21:7. Subsequently, the prophet Gad presents David with three dire choices of punishment: three years of famine, three months of fleeing from his enemies, or three days of pestilence. David, acknowledging God's great mercy and preferring to "fall now into the hand of the LORD" rather than into the hand of man, chose the pestilence (1 Chronicles 21:13). Verse 14 then records the immediate, horrific, and widespread manifestation of this chosen judgment, detailing the immense and tragic loss of life that ensued. This account finds its parallel in the earlier historical record found in 2 Samuel 24.
Historical & Cultural Context: While censuses were not inherently forbidden in ancient Israel—indeed, they were commanded by God for specific purposes such as military readiness, taxation, or land distribution, as seen in the book of Numbers—David's census in this instance appears to have been motivated by a spirit of pride, a reliance on human strength and numbers rather than on divine provision, or a lack of proper divine authorization and atonement. This made it an act of profound disobedience. In the broader ancient Near Eastern context, plagues and pestilences were commonly understood as direct acts of divine judgment, serving as potent expressions of a deity's wrath or assertions of sovereignty. The concept of corporate solidarity was deeply embedded in Israelite society, meaning that the sin of a leader, particularly the king who represented the entire nation, could bring devastating consequences upon the entire community. The king's actions were seen as embodying the nation's spiritual state, and thus, his sin could incur national judgment.
Key Themes: The central themes powerfully highlighted by 1 Chronicles 21:14 include the severity of divine judgment against sin, particularly against pride and disobedience in leadership. It serves as a stark demonstration of the consequences of human arrogance and the perilous danger of relying on worldly strength and statistics rather than trusting implicitly in God's omnipotence and provision. The immense loss of life underscores the profound sanctity of human life and the tragic ripple effect of sin, where the actions of one individual, especially a figure of authority, can have devastating repercussions for countless others. Furthermore, the verse unequivocally reaffirms God's absolute sovereignty and unwavering justice, showcasing His power to execute judgment and His steadfast commitment to holiness, even when it involves His chosen people and their beloved king. This calamitous event ultimately leads to a pivotal moment in Israelite history: the establishment of the temple site, highlighting God's ultimate redemptive purpose and His ability to bring good even amidst judgment, as detailed in 1 Chronicles 21:18-30.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound message. Divine Retribution is central, as God directly and immediately acts to punish David's sin, demonstrating His unwavering justice and sovereignty. The narrative uses Cause and Effect with stark clarity: David's disobedient census directly leads to God's judgment, manifested as the pestilence. The sheer number "seventy thousand men" functions as a form of Numerical Emphasis, conveying the overwhelming and devastating scale of the loss, evoking Pathos and a deep sense of horror at the immense human cost. The swiftness of the plague, implied by the immediate "sent" and "fell," also contributes to the dramatic impact, highlighting the immediacy and decisiveness of divine judgment.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates the biblical truth that sin, particularly pride and disobedience, carries severe consequences, not only for the individual but often for the wider community. It underscores God's absolute holiness and justice, revealing that He is not indifferent to sin, even in His chosen leaders. While God is infinitely merciful and gracious, His justice demands accountability, and He will act to uphold His righteous standards. The corporate suffering for a leader's sin serves as a sober reminder of the interconnectedness of God's people and the immense responsibility that comes with leadership, where one person's actions can have far-reaching, tragic implications, impacting generations.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The tragic loss of seventy thousand lives in 1 Chronicles 21:14 serves as a stark and enduring reminder of the gravity of sin and its far-reaching consequences. It compels us to examine our own hearts for pride, self-reliance, and any tendency to trust in human strength or resources over God's divine provision. For those in positions of leadership, whether in the church, family, or society, this passage is a powerful call to humility, integrity, and absolute obedience to God, recognizing that our choices can profoundly impact those entrusted to our care. It also challenges us to hold a healthy fear of the Lord, understanding that while He is merciful and loving, He is also just and holy, and His standards are not to be trifled with. Ultimately, this narrative should drive us to sincere repentance when we fall short and to a deeper reliance on God's grace, acknowledging that true security, blessing, and flourishing come only through humble submission to His perfect will.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did innocent people suffer for David's sin?
Answer: This is a profound and challenging question that touches on the biblical concept of corporate solidarity, especially prevalent in the Old Testament. In ancient Israel, the king was seen as the representative head of the nation, and his actions, whether righteous or sinful, could have corporate consequences for the entire community. David's sin was not merely personal; it was an act of national leadership that reflected a profound lack of trust in God for the nation's security and a reliance on human power. While God's justice also emphasizes individual accountability, as seen in passages like Deuteronomy 24:16, there are instances where the consequences of sin extend beyond the immediate perpetrator, demonstrating the interconnectedness of humanity and the seriousness of sin in God's eyes. This tragic event underscores the devastating impact of sin and God's ultimate sovereignty, even in judgment. It also serves to highlight the need for a perfect sacrifice that could truly atone for sin, both individual and corporate, a need ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
Is God still like this today, sending plagues as direct punishment for sin?
Answer: God's character and attributes, including His justice and holiness, are unchanging (Hebrews 13:8). However, the specific ways in which God interacts with humanity and administers justice have evolved through the covenants, culminating in the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ. While the Bible indicates that natural disasters and diseases can, at times, be consequences of a fallen world or even indirect judgments, the direct, punitive, and immediate plague described in 1 Chronicles 21:14 is characteristic of Old Testament divine intervention, often serving as a visible demonstration of God's immediate displeasure and power. Under the New Covenant, God's primary mode of dealing with sin is through the atoning sacrifice of Christ, offering forgiveness and reconciliation to those who believe. The ultimate judgment for sin has been decisively dealt with on the cross, and the final judgment for those who reject Christ is yet to come. Believers are now "in Christ" and are not under condemnation for their sins (Romans 8:1), having been redeemed from the curse of the law.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Chronicles 21:14, with its depiction of widespread death as a consequence of sin, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate cost of humanity's rebellion against God and the profound, desperate need for a divine solution. The seventy thousand who "fell" represent the universal reality that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), a truth that echoes throughout Scripture. David's choice to "fall into the hand of the LORD" (1 Chronicles 21:13) highlights a desperate reliance on God's mercy, even amidst His righteous judgment. This points forward to Jesus Christ, who willingly "fell into the hand of the LORD" on the cross, not for His own sin, but to bear the "pestilence" of humanity's sin on our behalf. He became sin for us, though He knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). The severity of the plague in David's time underscores the infinite severity of sin that required the ultimate, perfect sacrifice of the spotless Lamb of God (John 1:29). Through His sacrificial death, Christ absorbed the divine wrath and judgment that humanity deserved, bringing an end to the plague of sin and offering eternal life and healing to all who believe. Indeed, "by His wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5), a promise fulfilled in the atoning work of our Savior.