24:9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel {d} eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah [were] {e} five hundred thousand men.
(d) According to Joab's count: for in all there were eleven hundred thousand, 1Ch 21:5.
(e) Including the Benjamites with them, or else they had but four hundred and seventy thousand.
24:1-9 For the people's sin David was left to act wrong, and in his chastisement they received punishment. This example throws light upon God's government of the world, and furnishes a useful lesson. The pride of David's heart, was his sin in numbering of the people. He thought thereby to appear the more formidable, trusting in an arm of flesh more than he should have done, and though he had written so much of trusting in God only. God judges not of sin as we do. What appears to us harmless, or, at least, but a small offence, may be a great sin in the eye of God, who discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. Even ungodly men can discern evil tempers and wrong conduct in believers, of which they themselves often remain unconscious. But God seldom allows those whom he loves the pleasures they sinfully covet.
