But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.
But David did not count those who were twenty years old and younger, because the LORD had promised he would make Israel's population grow as numerous as the stars in the sky.
David chose not to count Israel's youngest people because he trusted God's promise that the nation would grow as countless as the stars.
📚 Historical Context
This verse refers to David's military census described in 1 Chronicles 21, which was considered sinful because it showed reliance on military strength rather than trust in God. The reference to stars recalls God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in heaven. David's decision to exclude those under twenty may have been an attempt to limit the scope of what was already a problematic census.
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