I And II Chronicles: A Commentary (The Old Testament Library)

by Sara Japhet

The additional clause in Chronicles, ‘why should he bring guilt upon Israel’, is a key to the Chronicler’s specific mode of reworking. Although II Sam. suggests that the census may cause a disaster, it is not defined explicitly as a sin. This is done in Chronicles, which sees the census as a cause of ‘guilt’. Moreover, the incurring of the guilt ‘upon Israel’ anticipates a theological difficulty raised by the story in its present form. Already in David’s words in II Sam. 24.17, the question of the people’s responsibility is raised: ‘I have sinned . . . but these sheep, what have they done?’ A full response is not given in the version of Samuel, although v. 1, which depicts the census as a result of ‘God’s anger’, might be regarded as such an attempt. In Chronicles the answer is given here: by his decision David makes transgressors of the people as well, for to submit to a census is in itself a sin! Joab’s words have another major purpose in the framework of the story, to which we will return in greater detail later. This is the role of warning, so central to the Chronicler’s view of Providence (Japhet, Ideology, 176–80). One must be aware of one’s sin before becoming liable to punishment. In Chronicles, Joab’s words are therefore explicit – David’s act will make all the people deserving of punishment!