In Exodus, God instructed Moses to number the Israelites over 20 years old. Why were those under 20 not counted? Perhaps, those above 20 were supposed to be strong enough to take part in battles. Therefore, the census was also meant to be an estimate of the military strength of Israel. However, there was a string attached. Each man numbered must give half a shekel of silver as a ransom for himself.
When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them.
Each who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the LORD.
Every one who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the LORD's offering.
The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the LORD's offering to make atonement for yourselves(Exodus 30:12-15).
Therefore, census served more than an estimate of the military strength. It was also an opportunity to collect extra money, shall we say a tax, from the people. The poor were not exempted! What was the reason? There would be no plague among them! Why then should they numbered the people in the first place? It seems that census was a necessary evil in the eyes of the Israelites.
In the end, the number of Israelites 20 or above was found to be 603,550 (Exodus 38:26b). In the book of Numbers, we found a similar figure of 601,730.
This was the number of the people of Israel, six hundred and one thousand seven hundred and thirty (Numbers 26:51).
When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them.
Each who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the LORD.
Every one who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the LORD's offering.
The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the LORD's offering to make atonement for yourselves(Exodus 30:12-15).
Therefore, census served more than an estimate of the military strength. It was also an opportunity to collect extra money, shall we say a tax, from the people. The poor were not exempted! What was the reason? There would be no plague among them! Why then should they numbered the people in the first place? It seems that census was a necessary evil in the eyes of the Israelites.
In the end, the number of Israelites 20 or above was found to be 603,550 (Exodus 38:26b). In the book of Numbers, we found a similar figure of 601,730.
This was the number of the people of Israel, six hundred and one thousand seven hundred and thirty (Numbers 26:51).
In the last chapter of the Second book of Samuel, we found another census. The circumstances were more complicated.
Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go, number Israel and Judah." (2 Samuel 24:1)
How shall we understand this verse? Remember, people in Old Testament time used to ascribe the actions of rulers to God. God hardened the heart of Pharaoh so that he refused to let the Israelites go. This time, God incited David to order a census. The First Book of Chronicles ascribes this to Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1). So, who ordered it, God, Satan or David? In either case, David could not escape blameless. King David commanded Joab to carry out the census. But this idea was not well received.
But Joab said to the king, "May the LORD your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king still see it; but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?" (2 Samuel 24:3)
If King David was concerned about the military strength of Israel, Joab prayed that King David could be able to see the military active population grow before he died. However, David insisted and Joab had not choice but to carry out the King's command.
It seemed that it was not a tax collecting mission. Joab took nine months and twenty days to accomplish the mission.
And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: in Israel there were eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand (2 Samuel 24:9).
So, the military active population had nearly doubled since Moses' time, from 600000 to 1300000.
David regretted after learning this number.
But David's heart smote him after he had numbered the people (2 Samuel 24:10a).
The First Book of Chronicles has a different story.
But God was displeased with this thing, and he smote Israel (1 Chronicle 21:7).
Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go, number Israel and Judah." (2 Samuel 24:1)
How shall we understand this verse? Remember, people in Old Testament time used to ascribe the actions of rulers to God. God hardened the heart of Pharaoh so that he refused to let the Israelites go. This time, God incited David to order a census. The First Book of Chronicles ascribes this to Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1). So, who ordered it, God, Satan or David? In either case, David could not escape blameless. King David commanded Joab to carry out the census. But this idea was not well received.
But Joab said to the king, "May the LORD your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king still see it; but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?" (2 Samuel 24:3)
If King David was concerned about the military strength of Israel, Joab prayed that King David could be able to see the military active population grow before he died. However, David insisted and Joab had not choice but to carry out the King's command.
It seemed that it was not a tax collecting mission. Joab took nine months and twenty days to accomplish the mission.
And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: in Israel there were eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand (2 Samuel 24:9).
So, the military active population had nearly doubled since Moses' time, from 600000 to 1300000.
David regretted after learning this number.
But David's heart smote him after he had numbered the people (2 Samuel 24:10a).
The First Book of Chronicles has a different story.
But God was displeased with this thing, and he smote Israel (1 Chronicle 21:7).
God gave David three choices, through prophet Gad, David's seer (2 Samuel 24:11).
Option#1: three years of famine in the land.
Option#2: three months of fleeing for life for David.
Option#3: three days of plague in the land (2 Samuel 24:13, 1 Chronicles 21:12).
What do you think David would choose? Would David consider the duration of punishment, or the good of his people? Would David take into consideration the will of God? If you were David, what would you choose? Find out for yourself.
In the end, David bought the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite to build an altar to offer sacrifices to the Lord.
So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings (2 Samuel 24:24b-25a).
Option#1: three years of famine in the land.
Option#2: three months of fleeing for life for David.
Option#3: three days of plague in the land (2 Samuel 24:13, 1 Chronicles 21:12).
What do you think David would choose? Would David consider the duration of punishment, or the good of his people? Would David take into consideration the will of God? If you were David, what would you choose? Find out for yourself.
In the end, David bought the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite to build an altar to offer sacrifices to the Lord.
So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings (2 Samuel 24:24b-25a).
Dear Lord, I pray that our words and deeds will not displease You. Amen.
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