1 Chronicles 27:23

23 But David did not include in the registration those twenty years old or less, because ADONAI had said he would increase Isra'el's numbers like the stars in the sky.

1 Chronicles 27:23 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 27:23

But David took not the number of them from twenty years old
and under
Only those that were twenty years and upwards; but, according to Cornelius Bertram ^F11, he numbered them that were under twenty, though but sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen years of age, provided they were of robust bodies, and of a tall stature, and able to bear arms; which he takes to be the sin of David, in numbering the people, being contrary to the law of God; yet though he had ordered them to be numbered, and they were, yet he would not take them and put them into the account of his chronicles, as in the next verse, that his sin might not be known, see ( 2 Samuel 24:9 )

because the Lord had said, he would increase Israel like to the stars
in the heavens;
which are not to be numbered, and therefore David sinned in attempting to number the people.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F11 Lucubrat. Franktall, c. 2.

1 Chronicles 27:23 In-Context

21 of the half-tribe of M'nasheh in Gil'ad: Yiddo the son of Z'kharyahu; of Binyamin: Ya'asi'el the son of Avner;

22 of Dan: 'Azar'el the son of Yerocham. These were the commanders of the tribes of Isra'el.

23 But David did not include in the registration those twenty years old or less, because ADONAI had said he would increase Isra'el's numbers like the stars in the sky.

24 Yo'av the son of Tz'ruyah began a census of these, but he did not finish, and wrath came upon Isra'el because of this; moreover the number was not entered into the Annals of King David.

25 In charge of the king's supplies was 'Azmavet the son of 'Adi'el. In charge of the supplies in the countryside, the cities, the villages and the fortresses was Y'honatan the son of 'Uziyahu.