2 Samuel 24:5

Translations

Modern

They crossed the Jordan and camped near Aroer, south of the town in the middle of the valley, and proceeded toward Gad and Jazer.

Traditional

And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:

Literal

And they passed over the Jordan and camped in Aroer, on the right side of the city which is in the midst of the valley, toward Gad and to Jazer.

Latin

Cumque pertransissent Jordanem, venerunt in Aroër ad dexteram urbis, quæ est in valle Gad:

Original

Hebrew

English

They crossed the Jordan and camped near Aroer, south of the town in the middle of the valley, and proceeded toward Gad and Jazer.

Notes

2 Samuel 21:1–24:25

The final chapters of 2 Samuel form a coda (a concluding section). This section brings together and summarizes the main themes from earlier chapters.

These chapters are thematic, not chronological (arranged by topic, not by time). Because of this, not all the events happened at the end of David’s reign (for example, 2 Samuel 22:1).

The material is arranged using a common Hebrew literary pattern called a chiasm (a mirror-like structure). In a chiasm, the first and last sections match, and the middle section is the focus.

The structure of this chiasm is as follows:

A: Saul’s sin against the Gibeonites and the punishment that affected the whole community (2 Samuel 21:1–14)
- B: David’s warriors and their heroic deeds (2 Samuel 21:15–22)
  - C: David’s Psalm (2 Samuel 22:1–51)
  - C′: David’s Psalm (2 Samuel 23:1–7)
- B′: David’s warriors and their heroic deeds (2 Samuel 23:8–39)
A′: David’s sin involving the census and the punishment that affected the whole community (2 Samuel 24:1–25)

A chiasm draws attention to the center section. Here, the center is David’s hymns. These hymns do not focus on David himself. Instead, they focus on David’s God.

Theme notes and profiles

David Joab God or Satan?

Events

Reign of David

Related verses

Deuteronomy 2:36
From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the valley, even as far as Gilead, not one city had walls too high for us. The LORD our God gave us all of them.
Joshua 13:9
The area from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon,
Joshua 13:16
The territory from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the middle of the valley, to the whole plateau beyond Medeba,
Numbers 32:3
“Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,
Numbers 32:35
Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,
Numbers 32:1
Now the Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, surveyed the lands of Jazer and Gilead, and they saw that the region was suitable for livestock.
Numbers 21:32
After Moses had sent spies to Jazer, Israel captured its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there.
Isaiah 16:8–9
For the fields of Heshbon have withered, along with the grapevines of Sibmah. The rulers of the nations have trampled its choicest vines, which had reached as far as Jazer and spread toward the desert. Their shoots had spread out and passed over the sea.
1 Samuel 30:28
…to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, and Eshtemoa;
Isaiah 17:2
The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they will be left to the flocks, which will lie down with no one to fear.

Parallels

Exodus 30:11–16 1 Chronicles 21:1–6

People

Gad: Israelite tribe; descended from Gad, son of Jacob

Places

Aroer: A city in Gad, built by the Gadites Jazer: A town in Gilead, allotted to Gad Jordan: A river and region, significant in Israel's history

Glossary

Aroer Census David Disease Jazer Moriah Samuel, Books of First and Second Valley of Gad

Topics

Armies: Enumeration of Israel's Military Forces Census: The Numbering of Israel by David Israel: Number of, when David Counted Joab: Son of David's Sister: Numbers the People Presumption: David, in Numbering Israel Rulers: Wicked: David, Numbering Israel and Judah Valleys: Gad

2 Samuel 24:5

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

Parallels?