1 Chronik 21:30

30 Aber David vermochte nicht vor denselben hinzugehen, um Gott zu suchen; denn er war erschrocken vor dem Schwerte des Engels Jehovas.

1 Chronik 21:30 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 21:30

But David could not go before it to inquire of God
Which yet was the proper place to seek the Lord in: the reason follows,

for he was afraid, because of the sword of the angel of the Lord;
which had so terrified him, that he was so weak that he could not go; and he feared that, should he attempt to go, while he was going thither, at such a distance, the angel would make a terrible slaughter in Jerusalem, and therefore he durst not go and leave it; and besides, as the Lord had commanded him to build an altar there, he might fear it would displease him, should he depart from it; and the rather, as hereby he pointed out to him the place where the temple should be built, and sacrifices offered, as appears from what he says in the beginning of the next chapter.

1 Chronik 21:30 In-Context

28 Zu jener Zeit, als David sah, daß Jehova ihm auf der Tenne Ornans, des Jebusiters, geantwortet hatte, opferte er daselbst.

29 Die Wohnung Jehovas aber, die Mose in der Wüste gemacht hatte, und der Brandopferaltar waren zu jener Zeit auf der Höhe zu Gibeon.

30 Aber David vermochte nicht vor denselben hinzugehen, um Gott zu suchen; denn er war erschrocken vor dem Schwerte des Engels Jehovas.