2 Samuel 24:11

2Sa 24:11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying,

Ver. 11. And when David was up in the morning.] Having prayed the night afore in faith, that God would take away his iniquity, and own him for his servant, for he knew that he had deserved to be discountenanced and rejected for ever. His sin was doubtless pardoned; but in his people - his pride - he must be punished. Gad therefore cometh to him, and saith in effect, as that other prophet did to the wife of Jeroboam, {1Ki 14:6} "I am sent to thee with heavy tidings."

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Sa 24:11-13. For when David was up in the morning — The words thus translated give the reader to apprehend that David’s penitence was caused by Gad’s threat, which certainly was not the case. He was made sensible of his sin and made sorry for it before Gad came to him. They should here be rendered, And when David was up, &c., David’s seer — Gad is so called because he was David’s domestic prophet, by whom he consulted God in difficult cases, and received his directions and commands. I offer thee three things — To show him and the world that the vengeance he now came to denounce was no casual calamity, nor the effects of any natural cause, he gave him his choice of the three evils, one of which must be immediately inflicted upon him. Shall seven years of famine come unto thee — In 1Ch 21:12, it is only three years of famine which is the reading of the LXX.; a reading, says Houbigant, which I prefer in this place, because the three years of famine answer to the three months’ flight before his enemies, and the three days’ pestilence. It is easy to suppose here, as in 2Sa 24:9, that a slight mistake has been made by the writer in transcribing the text. If this be not satisfactory to the reader, he may suppose, with Poole and others, that in Chronicles the sacred writer speaks exactly of those years of famine only which came for David’s sin: but that here he speaks comprehensively, including those three years of famine sent for Saul’s sin, chap. 21. And this sin of David’s being committed in the year next after them, was in a manner a year of famine; either because it was a sabbatical year, wherein they might not sow nor reap; or rather because, not being able to sow in the third year, on account of the excessive drought, they were not capable of reaping this fourth year. And three years more being added to these four, make up the seven here mentioned. So the meaning of the words is this: As thou hast already had four years of famine, shall three years more come? Now advise — That is, consider. The divine wisdom appears in the nature of the offer here made to David; he had sinned by placing his heart on human means of safety and security, instead of placing it on the divine protection. A trial was therefore made of him by this offer, how his heart now stood, and whether it would not fly to human means for safety. He had numbered his people, that he might rest in confidence by knowing the strength of his kingdom. Had not, therefore, his heart smote him, as mentioned 2Sa 24:10, and had he not seen the sin and folly of seeking safety in human strength, independent of the Almighty, he would, in all likelihood, have chosen to have tried his fortune with his enemies in war, as depending on the known strength, courage, and number of his people. Or he would have chosen famine, as depending on his great riches for obtaining a sufficient supply of food from other countries, though the famine should come into his land. But by humbly and confidently leaving it to God, to inflict either of those punishments which come more immediately from his own hand, and one of which, namely, the pestilence, he knew no human power or means could any ways guard against, and from which all his mighty men of war, or his own valour and wisdom, could not defend him, but he would lie equally exposed as the meanest subject; by such a submission or choice as this, David gave a public testimony, that he was again convinced that all human means or strength avails nothing, unless we have the help and protection of the Almighty; that all our confidence is vain, unless that which is placed in the Lord.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

24:11 Gad . . . David’s seer appears only here and in 1 Sam 22:5. Seer is an early name for a prophet (1 Sam 9:9, 19). Unlike pagan magicians or sorcerers, biblical seers had divinely inspired visions (see also 2 Kgs 17:13; Isa 29:10; 30:9-10; Amos 7:12; Mic 3:7) and functioned as God’s messengers.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Whom God had appointed for David and his time.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 11. For when David was up] It is supposed that David's contrition arose from the reproof given by Gad, and that in the order of time the reproof came before the confession stated in the 10th verse. 2Sa 24:10

David's seer] A holy man of God, under the Divine influence, whom David had as a domestic chaplain.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(1l) For when David.—Read, and when. There is no suggestion in the original, as seems to be implied in the English, that David’s repentance was in consequence of the visit of Gad; on the contrary, it was in consequence of his repentance and confession that the prophet was sent to him.

The prophet Gad.—This prophet has not been mentioned since his warning to David to return from the land of Moab (1Sa_22:5); but he had probably been all along one of David’s counsellors. From 1Ch_29:29 it is not unlikely that this account was written by Gad.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

11. For when David was up in the morning] And David arose in the morning, and, &c.: after the recognition and confession of his sin. The E. V. gives the false impression that the conviction of his sin was the result of Gad’s visit, which is not the meaning of the passage. Gad was not sent until after his confession and prayer for pardon.

the prophet Gad, David’s seer] Gad has not been mentioned since he was with David in his wanderings (1Sa_22:5), but no doubt had been acting as his confidential counsellor throughout. The word for “seer” is chôzeh, literally “gazer,” a term first used here in place of the older word “seer,” rôeh. See note on 1Sa_9:9. The narrative before us was not improbably written by Gad himself (1Ch_29:29).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For when David was up in the morning,.... Which it is probable was very early, he not being able to sleep through the distress of mind he was in; for the words should be rendered, "and David arose in the morning" (c), for, as we render them, they seem to imply as if he had no sense of his sin before the prophet came to him next mentioned; whereas it was in the night he had been under the conviction of it, and had acknowledged it, and prayed for the pardon of it; upon which the prophet was sent to acquaint him what was the will of God concerning him:

the word of the Lord came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer; with whom he had used to advise about the will of God on various occasions, though in this he had neglected to consult him; the Targum calls it the word of prophecy from the Lord:

saying; as follows.

(c) "et surrexit", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

David’s seer - Margin, references. From the latter passage it is probable that we have here Gad’s narrative.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

And seer. This was a peculiar distinction of the prophet, (Haydock) who was appointed to direct David, (Menochius) to whom he had been long attached, 1 Kings xxii. 5. (Calmet0

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

David’s seer; so called, because he was a prophet, (for such were called seers, 1Sa 9:9) now and at other times employed by God to reveal his mind and will to David. See 1Sa 22:5; 1Ch 29:29.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

11. When David was up — From his bed, where probably all night he had watered his couch with his tears. See Psa_6:6, which was, perhaps, composed on this sad occasion.

Gad — Who had been with him in his early wanderings. 1Sa_22:5.

Seer — See note on 1Sa_9:9.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For when, etc.; Hebrew, and David arose in the morning, and a word of Jehovah came unto Gad, a seer of David, saying. The visit of the seer was the result of David"s repentance, and not its cause. And he was sent in mercy, that, after such punishment as would cure both king and people of their folly, there might be for both forgiveness. The name for seer is not roeh, the old word used in 1Sa_9:9, and which simply means "one who sees;" but chozeh, a gazer, one who looks with fixed eyes, that penetrate into the hidden world.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, "Go

The idiom "the word of Yahweh came to" is used to introduce a special message from God. See how you translated this idiom in 2 Samuel 7:4. AT: "Yahweh gave a message to the prophet Gad, David's seer. He said, 'Go" or "Yahweh spoke this message to the prophet Gad, David's seer: 'Go" (See: Idiom)

David's seer

This means Gad was the official prophet in the royal palace.

translationWords

raise

word of God

prophet

Gad

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.