The Chronicler largely ignores the failings of the two founding figures of the Davidic dynasty, David and Solomon. While not a single failure is attached to Solomon, two of David’s failures are included in Chronicles. Interestingly, both of these failures are related to David’s naïveté in ritual matters, both are related to events key to Jerusalem’s new role as worship center in Israel, both result in the death of innocent figures, and in both David functions as a priestly leader offering sacrifices. Thus, through these failures David accomplishes a positive mission: the centralization of worship at Jerusalem.

Chapter 21 begins in 21:1–6 with the revelation that Satan has enticed David to count his people, contrasting the assertion in 2 Samuel 24:1 that it was Yahweh who incited/enticed …