1 Chronicles 21:15

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.

And God {H430} sent {H7971} an angel {H4397} unto Jerusalem {H3389} to destroy {H7843} it: and as he was destroying {H7843}, the LORD {H3068} beheld {H7200}, and he repented {H5162} him of the evil {H7451}, and said {H559} to the angel {H4397} that destroyed {H7843}, It is enough {H7227}, stay {H7503} now thine hand {H3027}. And the angel {H4397} of the LORD {H3068} stood {H5975} by the threshingfloor {H1637} of Ornan {H771} the Jebusite {H2983}.

God also sent an angel to destroy Yerushalayim, but when he was about to carry out the destruction, ADONAI saw it and changed his mind about causing such distress; so he said to the destroying angel, "Enough! Now withdraw your hand."The angel of ADONAI was standing at the threshing-floor of Ornan the Y'vusi.

Then God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem, but as the angel was doing so, the LORD saw it and relented from the calamity, and He said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!” At that time the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was about to destroy, Jehovah beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the destroying angel, It is enough; now stay thy hand. And the angel of Jehovah was standing by the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Context

This verse is central to the narrative of King David's sin in taking a census of Israel and Judah, an act that displeased the Lord (as detailed in 1 Chronicles 21:1). David's action demonstrated a reliance on human strength and numbers rather than on God's providence, leading to divine judgment. God offered David three choices of punishment: famine, defeat by enemies, or a plague. David chose to fall into the hand of the Lord, acknowledging God's great mercies. As a result, a devastating plague swept through Israel, causing immense loss of life (1 Chronicles 21:14).

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Mercy: The verse powerfully illustrates God's justice in sending the destroying angel as a consequence of sin, yet it simultaneously highlights His profound mercy. Even in judgment, God limits the destruction, demonstrating His compassion. The phrase "the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil" signifies God's relenting from the full extent of His wrath.
  • God's Sovereignty: Despite the presence of a destructive angel, it is God who ultimately controls the plague, commanding "It is enough, stay now thine hand." This underscores God's absolute authority over life and death, judgment and salvation.
  • The Significance of Place: The angel stopping at "the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite" is highly significant. This location, also known as Mount Moriah, would later become the site where David offered sacrifices to stop the plague (1 Chronicles 21:26), and eventually, the sacred ground for the construction of the First Temple by Solomon (2 Chronicles 3:1).

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "he repented him of the evil" uses the Hebrew word nicham (נחם), which often means to 'be sorry,' 'comfort,' or 'relent.' In this context, it does not imply that God made a mistake or sinned, but rather that He changed His course of action concerning the judgment. It reflects God's compassionate nature, where His righteous anger is appeased by David's repentance and intercession, leading Him to stop the plague before total destruction.

Practical Application

This verse offers several timeless lessons:

  • Consequences of Sin: David's experience serves as a stark reminder that sin, even when committed by a man after God's own heart, has serious consequences. It highlights the importance of humility and obedience over self-reliance.
  • God's Limitless Mercy: Even in the midst of severe judgment, God's mercy prevails. He desires not the total destruction of His people but their turning back to Him. This provides immense comfort and hope, reminding us that God's grace is always available to those who repent. Psalm 103:8 beautifully describes the Lord as "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."
  • The Sacredness of Atonement: The stopping of the plague at the threshingfloor, which became the site of sacrifice and later the Temple, foreshadows the necessity of atonement for sin. It points to a divine principle that reconciliation with God often involves a sacred offering or intervention, ultimately fulfilled in Christ's sacrifice.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Genesis 6:6

    ¶ And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

  • Exodus 32:14

    And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

  • Matthew 23:37

    O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not!

  • Matthew 23:38

    Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

  • Jeremiah 26:18

    Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed [like] a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

  • Mark 14:41

    And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take [your] rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

  • Psalms 78:38

    But he, [being] full of compassion, forgave [their] iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

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