1 Chronicles 21:1
And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
Original Language Analysis
וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֥ד
stood up
H5975
וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֥ד
stood up
Strong's:
H5975
Word #:
1 of 10
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
שָׂטָ֖ן
And Satan
H7854
שָׂטָ֖ן
And Satan
Strong's:
H7854
Word #:
2 of 10
an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) satan, the arch-enemy of good
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
3 of 10
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
4 of 10
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וַיָּ֙סֶת֙
and provoked
H5496
וַיָּ֙סֶת֙
and provoked
Strong's:
H5496
Word #:
5 of 10
properly, to prick, i.e., (figuratively) stimulate; by implication, to seduce
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 10
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
לִמְנ֖וֹת
to number
H4487
לִמְנ֖וֹת
to number
Strong's:
H4487
Word #:
8 of 10
properly, to weigh out; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll
Cross References
Job 2:1Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.Zechariah 3:1And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.Revelation 12:10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.Hebrews 10:24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:Acts 5:3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?Matthew 4:3And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.John 13:2And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;Luke 11:53And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:Luke 22:31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Historical Context
Numbering the people violated God's command (Exodus 30:12) requiring atonement money to prevent plague. David's census (c. 975 BCE) likely aimed at military conscription or taxation, representing the very evils Samuel warned against monarchy (1 Samuel 8:11-18).
Questions for Reflection
- How do you reconcile God's sovereignty with satanic temptation and human responsibility for sin?
- In what ways might you be tempted to trust in human resources (numbers, wealth, power) rather than God's promises?
Analysis & Commentary
The statement 'Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel' introduces Satan explicitly in a historical narrative (compare 2 Samuel 24:1 which says 'the LORD moved David'). Both accounts are true: Satan acted as agent of temptation while God permitted/used this for His purposes. This illustrates the mysterious relationship between divine sovereignty and satanic/human agency. The census itself represented either pride in military strength or distrust of God's promise to multiply Abraham's seed. Reformed theology sees here the doctrine that God can use even Satan's evil intentions to accomplish His purposes (cf. Job 1-2), while holding humans accountable for sin.