1 Chronicles 21:1-2 “And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.”

This Chapter is a repeat of the story in 2 Samuel 24 (click here to read more) where David had a census done on Judah and Israel. There are some confusion out there on who really “told” David to do this.. Because from 2 Samuel 24:1 the translators let it seem like YHWH “moved” David to do it, and then in the same sentence says YHWH was angry with David – which does not make sense?

But in 1 Chronicles 21 it is very clear on who caused David to take a census – it was ha-satan. The Hebrew word for “moved” or “provoked” is Sut H5496 – sûṯ, meaning to persuade, stir, entice, incite, lure, provoke or instigate. In both these books and chapters Sut is used – that does not sound like YHWH, especially to be angry in the same sentence. Ha-satan, the enemy – is the one who stirs, lures, instigate, confuse, tricks and deceive! Revelations 20:3 reminds us of who he is, “He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended”

The bible translations of 2 Samuel 24:1 sounds something like this… “And again the anger of YHWH was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.” However translating the words from Hebrew, it is more like “YHWH’s anger was against Israel, David was deceived/lured to count Israel”.