The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

CHAP. XXIV. & I CHRON. XXI.

[David 39] DAVID numbreth the people, by the provoking of Satan, 1 Chron. 21. 1. and by the provoking of God, 1 Sam. 24. 1. the former tending to a sin in David, the latter tending to a punishment of Israel: the Lord was displeased at them for so little regarding Davids Kingdom, as he had been at David for the matter of Uriah, and as he had been at Sauls house for the slaughter of the Gi∣beonites, and therefore he giveth up David to a covetous thought, to number the people, that he might lay a tax upon every Poll. Joab hath here more pie∣ty, at the least more policy then David, and declines the business till master'd by Davids importunity: He is nine moneths and twenty days upon his count∣ing, much near the counting-time of a woman with child, and at last he bring∣eth in the number; but here the account in the Book of Samuel doth differ ex∣ceedingly from the account in the Book of the Chronicles, the Chronicles saith, All Israel were eleven hundred thousand men: and the Book of Samuel saith, they were only eight hundred thousand men, here are three hundred thousand difference: and the Book of Samuel saith, that the men of Judah were five hundred thousand, but the Book of Chronicles saith, they were only four hun∣dred and seventy thousand. Here is thirty thousand difference. Now for the re∣conciling of this great and double diversity, it is to be observed, That there were four and twenty thousand Souldiers and Officers that attended David monthly, so many every month, these make in all two hundred eighty eight thousand, 1 Chron. 27. These were as it were a standing Guard about the King every Month; and ready for any sudden expedition: There were besides these the Rulers of the Tribes, and Officers under them, and the Overseers and Ru∣lers of the Kings imployments, and Officers under them; but the number of these was not put into the account of the Chronicles of David, vers. 24. so that here is the resolution of the scruple, the whole number of men able to bear Arms in Israel, were eleven hundred thousand, and five hundred thousand in Judah, but of these there were three hundred thousand of Israel, and thirty thousand of Judah that were already listed, and in the constant service and im∣ployment of the King; and these Joab gave not in the account because their number and list had been known long, and because the King would not lay Taxes on his own servants. Amongst all this number Levi and Benjamin were not reckoned.

For before Joab came home to sum them (for he began furthest off first) a plague began among the people; and now the Lord began to cut off them that David had begun to make his pride, and intended to make his profit: The Lord proposeth to David three things; among the rest whether three years famine should come upon the Land, 2 Chron. 21. 12. which the Book of Samuel expresseth, Shall seven years famine come? vers. 13. that is, Shall three years fa∣mine come to make up those that have been already to be seven? There had been already three years famine for the Gibeonites, and this year of numbering the people was almost out, and shall three years famine more come to make up seven? And so we have a very good direction and guide about the order and times of the Stories that went last before, concerning the three years famine, and this joyned to it; and this helpeth still to confirm that Series, in which we have laid them, or indeed rather in which they lye of themselves: Where Abra∣ham had his knife unsheathed to slay his Son, but was stayed by command from Heaven: In the very same place had the destroying Angel his sword drawn to slay Jerusalem, but was restrained by the Lord; the place was a threshing floor on Mount Moriah, that belonged to Ornan or Araunah or Auranah, for it is twice so written in the Text: And by these several names, one near another, was he called: A man that was descended of the Royal blood of the Jebusites,

and that now lived with, and was the chief among other Jebusites that injoyed estates in and about Jerusalem under a Tribute. This place David purchaseth in two several parcels, and for two several sums. The very floor, and the Oxen and materials for sacrifice, he bought for 50 shekels of silver, 2 Sam. 24. 24. But the whole place of the Mount of the house, which was a very large com∣pass, cost him six hundred shekels of gold, 1 Chron. 21. 25. There David builds an Altar, and sacrificeth, and the Lord answereth him by fire from Heaven, and from Heaven doth by this token point out the place where the Temple should be built.