Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Chronicles 27:23

23 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 .

The meaning is, David when he desired to number the people▪ he designed to number onely those who were from tw[illegible: 1+ letters]nty years old and upward, or (which is the same thing) thos[illegible: 1+ letters] that drew sword, 1 Chron. 21. 5. and not those who were from 20 years old and under.

And therefore to number them all both above and under twenty years old had been both an infinite trouble and a tempting of God, or a questioning of the Truth of his Promises. And possibly this Circumstance might in part deceive or quiet David[illegible: 1+ letters] Conscience, that his desire of knowing the number of his People did not proceed from distrust of Gods Promise or Providence, but from a prudent Care to know the true State and Strength of his Kingdom.

Marginal references: Gen. 15. 5.