God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it, &c. This seems to import that there were more angels than one employed to effect this destruction in different parts of the country: and that the angels, sent to Jerusalem, had begun to slay some of its inhabitants. The Lord beheld, and repented him of the evil Probably because he beheld their serious repentance. David and the elders clothed in sackcloth That is, in mourning garments; fell on their faces Humbling themselves before God for their sins, and deprecating his wrath against the people.
Related Commentaries of 1 Chronicles 21:15
1 Chronicles 21:15-16
15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornand the Jebusite.
16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.