ISRAEL'S POSTEXILIC HISTORY: LESSON 11 NOTES

LESSON 11: A MILITARY CENSUS AND A PLAGUE (1 CHR. 21-22)

1 Chr. 21:1-17 – David Numbers Israel

We must remember that it was Satan who provoked David to number Israel. "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel" (1 Chr. 21:1). Joab, though guilty of some terrible crimes, in this incident gave David good advice, but the king was so determined to number Israel that he rejected Joab's advice. Joab attempted to reason with David but to no avail. "And Joab answered, The Lord make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? Why then doth my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?" (1 Chr. 21:3). That David sinned in numbering Israel is certain for we read: "And God was displeased with this thing: therefore he smote Israel" (1 Chr. 21:7). David also freely confessed that he had sinned: "And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant: for I have done foolishly" (1 Chr. 21:8). David further admitted his sin as the angel was about to destroy Jerusalem:

ISRAEL'S POSTEXILIC HISTORY: LESSON 10 NOTES

LESSON 10: ISRAEL’s CONFLICT WITH AMMON AND THE CONQUEST OF THE PHILISTINES (1 CHR. 19-20)

Here is a man that not only showed kindness to those who were under him, but also to those (regardless of the generation) of the offspring of the one who had shown him kindness. Seemingly, David honored those who had honored him, and here he sends his messengers to comfort Hanun who had lost his father. Is it not true that we need to practice the practical principles of Christianity, and to all men? Comforting those who are in need, suffering from some personal loss, is seemingly, today, a challenge to a person's spirit and Christianity. God is the "God of all comfort" and we, his sons and daughters, ought to be the embodiment and personification, of the same (cf. 2 Cor. 1:3-8).[1]

ISRAEL'S POSTEXILIC HISTORY: LESSON 12 WORKSHEET

Israel’s Postexilic History:

Preparing for the Arrival of the Messiah

A Study of 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther

LESSON 12: DAVID’S ORGANIZATION OF THE LEVITES (1 CHR. 23-24)

LESSON 12 QUESTIONS: