1 Chronicles 21:16

And David raised up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord standing betwixt heaven and (the) earth, and a drawn sword in his hand, turned against Jerusalem. And both he and the greater men in birth were clothed with hair-shirts, and they fell down upon the earth, (or And both he and the men of great age, that is, the elders, were clothed with hair-shirts, and they fell down on the ground).

Wycliffe Modern Spelling

In The King James Version

And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

In Context

15Also the Lord sent an angel into Jerusalem, that he should smite it; and when it was smitten, the Lord saw, and had mercy upon the greatness of (the) evil; and he commanded to the angel that smote, and said, It sufficeth, now thine hand cease. And the angel of the Lord stood beside the cornfloor of Ornan (the) Jebusite. (And the Lord sent an angel into Jerusalem, to strike it; and when it was struck, the Lord saw, and had mercy on the greatness of the evil; and he commanded to the angel who struck it, and said, It sufficeth, now stay thy hand. And the angel of the Lord stood still beside the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.)

17And David said to the Lord, Whether I am not he that commanded that the people should be numbered? I it am that sinned, I it am that did evil; what hath this flock deserved? My Lord God, I beseech thee, (let) thine hand be turned against me, and against the house of my father; but thy people be not smitten. (And David said to the Lord, Was it not I who commanded that the people should be counted? It is I who sinned, it is I who did the evil; what hath this flock done to deserve this? My Lord God, I beseech thee, let thy hand be turned against me, and against the house of my father; but do not let thy people be struck down.)

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Cross References

Exodus 14:19And the angel of the Lord, that went before the castles, or tents, of Israel, took himself, and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went together with him, and left the former things after the back, (And the angel of the Lord, who went before the tents, or the army, of Israel, took himself, and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went with him, yea, it also went from in front of them, to behind their backs,)

Numbers 16:22The which fell down low upon their face (s), and said, Most strong God of the spirits of all flesh, whether thy wrath shall be fierce against all men, for one man sinneth?

Numbers 22:31Anon the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel standing in the way, holding a drawn sword in his hand; and Balaam worshipped him lowly into the earth. (And at once the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel standing in the way, holding a drawn sword in his hand; and Balaam worshipped, or honoured, him lowly on the ground.)

Judges 13:20And when the flame of the altar ascended into heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended together in the flame (or the angel of the Lord went up in the flame). And when Manoah and his wife had seen this, they felled low to the earth.

2 Kings 6:17And when Elisha had prayed, he said, Lord, open thou the eyes of this young man, (so) that he (may) see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And, lo! the hill (was) full of horses, and of chariots of fire, in the compass of Elisha (or all around Elisha).

Psalms 35:13But when they were dis-easeful to me; I was clothed in an hair-shirt. I meeked my soul in fasting; and my prayer shall be turned (again) into my bosom. (But yet when they were sick; I was clothed in a hair-shirt. I humbled myself with fasting; and I prayed to the Lord for them.)

Matthew Henry on 1 Chronicles 21:8-18

David's Numbering the People. ( b. c. 1017.) 7 And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel. 8 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 very foolishly. 9 And the Lord spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying, 10 Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the Lord , I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. 11 So Gad came to David, and said unto him,… Read the whole commentary →

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