Satan, (also called the adversary), encouraged David to count his military forces (see 2 Samuel 24:1). The Chronicler views the story in Samuel through his understanding of Satan as an opponent of God and humanity. God allows Satan to act in the world, and through this, Satan unknowingly serves God's purposes (see 2 Chronicles 18:3–34; Job 1:6–2:7; Zechariah 3:1–2; Matthew 4:1–11; John 13:27; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Timothy 1:20; Revelation 20:3, 7–9).