1 Chronicles 27:23

KJV

But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.

KJV (with Strong's)

But David {H1732} took {H5375} not the number {H4557} of them from twenty {H6242} years {H8141} old {H1121} and under {H4295}: because the LORD {H3068} had said {H559} he would increase {H7235} Israel {H3478} like to the stars {H3556} of the heavens {H8064}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But David did not include in the registration those twenty years old or less, because ADONAI had said he would increase Isra'el's numbers like the stars in the sky.

Berean Standard Bible

David did not count the men aged twenty or under, because the LORD had said that He would make Israel as numerous as the stars of the sky.

American Standard Version

But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under, because Jehovah had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of heaven.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Chronicles 27:23 offers a profound insight into King David's mature faith and administrative wisdom, detailing his deliberate decision not to include men aged twenty and under in his population counts. This specific omission was not an oversight but a conscious act of reverence, directly stemming from his deep trust in the LORD's ancient and unwavering promise to supernaturally multiply Israel's descendants "like to the stars of the heavens." The verse thus underscores David's reliance on divine sovereignty over human statistics, highlighting a key lesson learned from his past, disastrous census and affirming God's faithfulness to His covenant.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a significant parenthetical note within 1 Chronicles 27, a chapter meticulously detailing David's administrative and military organization, including the monthly rotation of army divisions, tribal leaders, and various royal officials. The preceding verses list the commanders of David's army, while the following verses continue to enumerate his civil officers. Amidst this detailed administrative record, the mention of David's *restraint* from numbering a specific demographic stands out. It serves as a vital theological aside, distinguishing this administrative practice from the well-known and divinely condemned census recounted in [1 Chronicles 21](/1_chronicles/21 "1 Chronicles 21 - David's Sinful Census"). In that earlier account, David's prideful and unauthorized numbering of the fighting men resulted in a devastating plague upon Israel. Here, 1 Chronicles 27:23 demonstrates a king who has learned from his past errors, choosing faith and deference to God's promise over human calculation or self-reliance, thereby showcasing a matured understanding of divine sovereignty.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Census-taking in the ancient Near East was a common practice, typically undertaken for military conscription, taxation, or labor allocation. However, in Israel, a census could only be conducted under divine command, often requiring a specific atonement offering (as seen in [Exodus 30:12](/exodus/30-12 "Exodus 30:12 - Atonement Money for Census")) to avoid incurring God's wrath. David's earlier census in [2 Samuel 24](/2_samuel/24 "2 Samuel 24 - David's Sinful Census") and [1 Chronicles 21](/1_chronicles/21 "1 Chronicles 21 - David's Sinful Census") was a severe transgression because it was not divinely commanded and reflected a reliance on human strength rather than God's. The cultural understanding of God's covenant promises, particularly the promise to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the "stars of the heavens" ([Genesis 15:5](/genesis/15-5 "Genesis 15:5 - God's Promise to Abraham")), was foundational to Israel's identity. David's action in 1 Chronicles 27:23 directly references and honors this ancient, sacred promise, indicating a profound respect for God's word and His unique power to bring about national growth.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Chronicles and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Faithfulness and Promise-Keeping**. The core reason for David's action is God's ancient and unwavering commitment to multiply Israel, a promise reiterated to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ([Genesis 22:17](/genesis/22-17 "Blessing and Multiplication") and [Genesis 26:4](/genesis/26-4 "Promise to Isaac")). David's refusal to number the younger generation is an act of profound faith, acknowledging that Israel's true strength and growth emanate from God's blessing, not from human enumeration or military might. Secondly, it emphasizes **Trust Over Human Calculation**. The verse underscores a crucial spiritual principle: reliance on God's word and sovereign power over human efforts, statistics, or perceived strengths. David understood that God's plan for Israel's increase transcended any earthly census. This stands in stark contrast to his earlier, prideful census. Lastly, it illustrates **Learning from Past Mistakes**. David's previous disastrous experience with the census (detailed in [1 Chronicles 21](/1_chronicles/21 "1 Chronicles 21 - David's Sinful Census")) undoubtedly informed his decision here. It portrays a king who grew in wisdom and reverence, understanding the dangers of presuming upon God's sovereignty or seeking glory through human strength and numbers.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **"took not the number" (Hebrew, _lo' nasa' mispar'_):** This phrase signifies a deliberate act of omission, a conscious choice by David to refrain from counting. The Hebrew verb _nasa'_ (נָשָׂא) means "to lift, carry, take," and in this context, with _mispar_ (מִסְפָּר, "number"), it refers to the act of taking a census or enumeration. The negative particle _lo'_ emphasizes that this was not an oversight but a principled decision. This stands in stark contrast to the active "numbering" that characterized his earlier, sinful census in [1 Chronicles 21](/1_chronicles/21 "1 Chronicles 21 - David's Sinful Census"), where the same verb is used positively for the act of counting. Here, David's restraint demonstrates humility and a learned reverence for God's unique prerogative in determining Israel's growth.
* **"increase" (Hebrew, _yarb_):** The verb _yarb_ (יַרְבּ) is derived from the root _rabah_ (רָבָה), meaning "to be or become many, numerous, great." This term directly connects to the covenant promises of fruitfulness and multiplication given to the patriarchs. It implies a supernatural, divinely orchestrated growth that is beyond human capacity to produce or even fully comprehend. David's faith acknowledges that Israel's true "increase" is a divine work, not a demographic achievement.
* **"stars of the heavens" (Hebrew, _k'kôkᵉbê haššāmayim_):** This powerful simile is a direct and unmistakable allusion to the Abrahamic covenant, first found in [Genesis 15:5](/genesis/15-5 "Genesis 15:5 - God's Promise to Abraham"). It conveys the idea of an immeasurable, uncountable multitude, signifying an abundance that defies human accounting. The imagery reinforces the divine origin of Israel's growth and emphasizes the vastness and certainty of God's promise, which transcends any earthly census or human attempt to quantify.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under:"**: This clause highlights David's specific and intentional act of restraint. The demographic "twenty years old and under" typically represented those not yet eligible for full military service or inclusion in a general census for war. By excluding this group, David demonstrates a conscious decision to avoid the spiritual pitfalls associated with his earlier census. This particular age group signifies the future of the nation, its potential for growth and expansion. David's refusal to count them indicates his recognition that the future strength and increase of Israel lay not in human statistics or military potential, but in God's supernatural blessing and fulfillment of His covenant promises.
* **"because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens."**: This provides the theological justification and motivation for David's action. His restraint was not arbitrary but deeply rooted in a profound faith in God's explicit, ancient promise. The phrase "the LORD had said" points to the divine origin and authority of the promise. The simile "like to the stars of the heavens" directly references the Abrahamic covenant, emphasizing God's unique ability to multiply His people beyond human calculation or control. It underscores that Israel's true strength and growth come from divine blessing, not from human enumeration or military might, and that God's word is utterly trustworthy and sufficient.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant **literary devices** to convey its profound theological message. Central to its impact is **Allusion**, directly referencing the foundational covenant promises made by God to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, particularly the promise of countless descendants "as the stars of the heavens" ([Genesis 15:5](/genesis/15-5 "Genesis 15:5 - God's Promise to Abraham")). This allusion immediately connects David's actions to the enduring faithfulness of God throughout Israel's history. A prominent **Simile** is used with "like to the stars of the heavens," vividly portraying an immeasurable, divinely ordained multitude that defies human calculation. Furthermore, the verse functions as a powerful **Contrast** to David's earlier, sinful census in [1 Chronicles 21](/1_chronicles/21 "1 Chronicles 21 - David's Sinful Census"). While the earlier act was one of prideful human reliance, this verse presents an act of humble, faithful submission to God's word. Finally, the verse itself acts as a **Parenthetical Note** within the detailed administrative lists of 1 Chronicles 27, drawing special attention to a theological principle that transcends the mere enumeration of officials, highlighting the spiritual wisdom David had gained.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Chronicles 27:23 stands as a powerful testament to the enduring faithfulness of God and the necessary human response of trust. It underscores the biblical principle that true strength and prosperity for God's people come not from human might, strategic planning, or numerical superiority, but from divine blessing and the fulfillment of God's sovereign word. David's decision reflects a profound theological understanding that God's covenant promises are immutable and will be fulfilled independent of, and often despite, human efforts to quantify or control. This verse serves as a reminder that God's kingdom operates on principles of faith and divine power, challenging our natural inclination to rely on visible metrics and human systems. It is a call to humility, recognizing that God alone is the source of all true increase and blessing.

* [Genesis 15:5](/genesis/15-5 "God's Promise to Abraham")
* [Genesis 22:17](/genesis/22-17 "Blessing and Multiplication")
* [Deuteronomy 1:10](/deuteronomy/1-10 "Israel's Multitude")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
David's deliberate choice not to number the younger generation, rooted in his faith in God's promise to multiply Israel like the stars, offers a profound challenge to our contemporary tendencies to measure success and security by visible metrics, human achievements, or statistical growth. In an age obsessed with data, analytics, and quantifiable results, this verse calls us to a deeper spiritual discipline: to trust in God's unseen, sovereign work and His unfailing promises, even when circumstances defy human logic or measurement. It encourages us to cultivate humility, recognizing that true blessing and increase—whether in our personal lives, our families, our ministries, or our churches—ultimately stem from divine favor and power, not from our own efforts or calculations. Just as David learned to rely on God for the growth and protection of Israel, we are called to have faith that God will fulfill His word in our lives and in the world, even when we cannot fully comprehend or quantify His methods. It reminds us that our security is found not in what we can count, but in the One who counts us as His own and promises to multiply His people.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does David's decision challenge our tendency to rely on visible metrics or human systems rather than God's unseen work?**
* **In what areas of your life or ministry do you need to surrender "counting" and instead trust God's promise to "increase"?**
* **What past mistakes or lessons has God used to deepen your trust in His sovereignty and His ability to fulfill His promises?**

### FAQ
**Why was David's earlier census in 1 Chronicles 21 considered sinful, while this "not numbering" is positive?**

Answer: David's earlier census in [1 Chronicles 21](/1_chronicles/21 "1 Chronicles 21 - David's Sinful Census") was considered sinful primarily because it was an act of pride and self-reliance, not commanded by God. It implied a trust in military strength and human numbers rather than in divine power and provision. Such an unauthorized census could be seen as presuming upon God's sovereignty or even attempting to take credit for what God alone could accomplish. In contrast, David's "not numbering" in [1 Chronicles 27:23](/1_chronicles/27-23 "1 Chronicles 27:23 - David's Faith in God's Promise") is presented as an act of faith and humility. It explicitly acknowledges God's unique power to multiply Israel "like to the stars of the heavens" according to His promise. This decision demonstrates a king who has learned from his previous error, choosing to defer to God's word and sovereignty rather than relying on human statistics.

**What is the significance of "twenty years old and under" in this verse?**

Answer: The age group "twenty years old and under" typically represented those not yet eligible for military service or full participation in a general census for war. In ancient Israel, men aged twenty and above were usually counted for military purposes (e.g., [Numbers 1:3](/numbers/1-3 "Numbers 1:3 - Census for Military Service")). By specifically excluding this younger demographic, David acknowledged that the future strength and growth of Israel lay not in its current military potential or human resources, but in God's supernatural blessing and fulfillment of His covenant promises to multiply the nation. It highlights that the true "increase" of God's people is a divine work, not a human one, and that the future of Israel was secure in God's faithfulness, not in any human count or strategy.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The promise to "increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens," which so deeply influenced David's actions in 1 Chronicles 27:23, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While initially given to Abraham concerning his physical descendants ([Genesis 15:5](/genesis/15-5 "Genesis 15:5 - God's Promise to Abraham")), the New Testament reveals that the true "seed" of Abraham, through whom all nations would be blessed, is Christ Himself ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Galatians 3:16 - Christ as Abraham's Seed")). Therefore, the "stars of the heavens" promise is fulfilled not merely in a physical nation, but in the spiritual offspring of Abraham—all who believe in Jesus Christ, whether Jew or Gentile ([Galatians 3:7-9](/galatians/3-7 "Galatians 3:7-9 - Heirs of Abraham's Faith by Faith")). The church, the body of Christ, is God's "increase," a vast, uncountable multitude drawn from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation, redeemed by the [Lamb of God](/revelation/7-9 "Revelation 7:9 - A Multitude from Every Nation"). God's kingdom grows not by human power, military might, or demographic census, but by the Spirit's work through the proclamation of the Gospel, as the Lord Himself "adds to their number daily those who are being saved" ([Acts 2:47](/acts/2-47 "Acts 2:47 - The Lord Added to Their Number")). Christ is the ultimate and eternal fulfillment of God's promise to multiply a people for Himself, a people whose number is known only to God, transcending all earthly measurement.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 15:5

And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

Hebrews 11:12

Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, [so many] as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

Numbers 1:18

And they assembled all the congregation together on the first [day] of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.

1 Chronicles 21:2

And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know [it].

1 Chronicles 21:5

And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all [they of] Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah [was] four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.