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Patriarchs and Prophets
tions. This spirit could not fail to invite temptation. With a view to
extending his conquests among foreign nations, David determined to
increase his army by requiring military service from all who were of
proper age. To effect this, it became necessary to take a census of the
population. It was pride and ambition that prompted this action of the
king. The numbering of the people would show the contrast between
the weakness of the kingdom when David ascended the throne and its
strength and prosperity under his rule. This would tend still further to
foster the already too great self-confidence of both king and people.
The Scripture says, “Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David
to number Israel.” The prosperity of Israel under David had been due
to the blessing of God rather than to the ability of her king or the
strength of her armies. But the increasing of the military resources of
the kingdom would give the impression to surrounding nations that
Israel’s trust was in her armies, and not in the power of Jehovah.
Though the people of Israel were proud of their national greatness,
they did not look with favor upon David’s plan for so greatly extending
the military service. The proposed enrollment caused much dissatis-
faction; consequently it was thought necessary to employ the military
officers in place of the priests and magistrates, who had formerly taken
the census. The object of the undertaking was directly contrary to the
principles of a theocracy. Even Joab remonstrated, unscrupulous as he
had heretofore shown himself. He said, “The Lord make His people
a hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are
they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this
thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel? Nevertheless the
king’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went
throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.” The numbering was not
finished when David was convicted of his sin. Self-condemned, he
“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.” The next morning a message was brought
to David by the prophet Gad: “Thus saith the Lord, Choose thee either
three years’ famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes,
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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