This article will address the topic of 1 Chronicles 21, which has captured the attention of individuals from various disciplines and interests. 1 Chronicles 21 has been the object of study, debate and reflection over time, its implications and relevance are indisputable in the _var2 field. Through a comprehensive approach, different perspectives, research and opinions regarding 1 Chronicles 21 will be explored, in order to provide a complete and updated view on this topic. From its impact on society to its implications at the individual level, this article aims to provide a detailed and critical vision of 1 Chronicles 21, with the purpose of enriching the knowledge and understanding of those who read it.
1 Chronicles 21 | |
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Book | Books of Chronicles |
Category | Ketuvim |
Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
Order in the Christian part | 13 |
1 Chronicles 21 is the twenty-first chapter of the Books of Chronicles in the Hebrew Bible or the First Book of Chronicles in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is compiled from older sources by an unknown person or group, designated by modern scholars as "the Chronicler", and had the final shape established in late fifth or fourth century BCE. This chapter records the account of David's census, its consequences and the purchase of a site for the temple. The whole chapter belongs to the section focusing on the kingship of David (1 Chronicles 9:35 to 29:30).
This chapter was originally written in the Hebrew language. It is divided into 30 verses.
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).
Extant manuscripts of a Koine Greek translation known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE, include Codex Vaticanus (B; B; 4th century), Codex Alexandrinus (A; A; 5th century) and Codex Marchalianus (Q; Q; 6th century).
The Chronicler reinterprets and supplements the account in 2 Samuel 24, taking the perspective of Job chapter 1. Instead of "the anger of the LORD" (2 Samuel 24:1), the one who persuaded David to carry out a census is "Satan", a Hebrew word which should be translated as "an adversary" rather than a personal name, more likely is the same figure mentioned in Job 1:6ff and Zechariah 3:1ff. David's guilt is pronounced strongly by Joab (more than in 2 Samuel 24) as the word 'trespass' (verse 3; NRSV, 'guilt') is used to emphasize David's responsibility. The Chronicler simply documents the result of the census, excluding the individual stages (due to its insignificance or incomprehensibility) recorded in 2 Samuel 24.
Numbers 1:49 forbids to take a military census among the Levites, whereas the tribe of Benjamin was probably excluded because 'the tabernacle resided upon its territory'.
The passage emphasizes on YHWH's disapproval, not David's remorse (as in 2 Samuel 24) because David was persuaded by Satan, so it has the statement 'he struck Israel' forecasting the events reported in verse 14.
The sin of David resulted in the death of Israelites (verse 14; cf. 2 Samuel 11:17–26; 12:15–19; 24:15).
This sentence is followed in 2 Samuel 24:15 by "from the morning even to the time appointed," so if "the time appointed" means 'the time of the evening sacrifice', then God shortened the three days to a short one day.
The Chronicler describes the angel hanging in the air, recalling the descriptions in Numbers 22:31 and Joshua 5:13-15 (cf. also verse 18); furthermore cf. Daniel 8:15; 12:6.
In verses 21–25, the purchase of Ornan's threshingfloor is patterned after Abraham's purchase of Machpelah's cave (Genesis 23), including the insistence on paying the full price (an expression used only in Genesis 23:9 and verses 22, 24). The 600 silver shekels David pays is more than Abraham's 400 silver shekels for Machpelah's cave, alluding the higher value of temple site than Sarah's burial site (600 is also a multiple of 12, an important number in various ways in the Chronicles). Verses 29–30 explain that because an angel obstructed his way, David had to make sacrifices on Ornan's threshing-floor, instead of at the high place at Gibeon.
The command to erect an altar on the threshing-floor of Ornan (the later name for Araunah) was given only by Gad in 2 Samuel 24, is clarified in Chronicles as originated from the angel of YHWH.