1 Chronicles 21:9

And the LORD spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying,

And the LORD {H3068} spake {H1696} unto Gad {H1410}, David's {H1732} seer {H2374}, saying {H559},

ADONAI spoke to Gad, David's seer:

And the LORD instructed Gad, David’s seer,

And Jehovah spake unto Gad, David’s seer, saying,

Commentary

Context of 1 Chronicles 21:9

This verse serves as a pivotal point in the narrative of King David's unauthorized census of Israel. The preceding verses (1 Chronicles 21:1-8) detail how David was provoked by Satan to number the people, an act that demonstrated a lack of trust in God and potentially stemmed from pride in his military strength rather than reliance on divine provision. Despite the warnings from his general Joab, David proceeded with the census. Immediately after the completion of this census, David was struck with remorse and confessed his sin to the LORD. Verse 9 then introduces God's direct response to David's transgression and confession, delivered through His prophet.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Communication: The phrase "And the LORD spake unto Gad" highlights God's active involvement in human affairs and His consistent communication with His people, particularly through His chosen servants. This demonstrates God's sovereignty and His immediate response to human actions, both righteous and sinful.
  • The Role of the Prophet/Seer: Gad is identified as "David's seer." In ancient Israel, a "seer" (Hebrew: chozeh) was a prophet who received divine revelations, often through visions, and was tasked with conveying God's will, warnings, and instructions to the king and the people. Gad served as David's spiritual advisor, delivering crucial messages from God, as seen in other parts of David's life (1 Samuel 22:5).
  • Consequences of Sin: This verse sets the stage for the announcement of the consequences of David's sin. Even after confession, there are often repercussions for disobedience, underscoring the seriousness of sin in God's eyes.

Linguistic Insights

The term "seer" (Hebrew: chozeh, חֹזֶה) emphasizes the visual aspect of prophetic revelation. It signifies someone who "sees" a vision or receives a divine communication directly from God, distinct from other prophetic terms like navi' (נָבִיא), which emphasizes speaking forth God's message. Gad's role as a chozeh underscores that the message he was about to deliver was a direct, clear revelation from the LORD.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that God continues to communicate His will, though the methods may differ today. While we no longer have prophets in the same capacity as Old Testament seers, God speaks through His living Word (the Bible), the Holy Spirit, and godly counsel. It also highlights the importance of accountability and listening to spiritual guidance. Even after confessing sin, as David did, we must be prepared to accept the consequences and learn from them, trusting in God's ultimate mercy and justice.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Samuel 24:11 (5 votes)

    For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

  • 1 Samuel 9:9 (5 votes)

    (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for [he that is] now [called] a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

  • 1 Chronicles 29:29 (4 votes)

    Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they [are] written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,