Chroniques 1 21:30 Midrash : Midrash Tanchuma & Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer

And Abraham was old, well stricken in age (Gen. 24:1). R. Joshua the son of Nahmani said: Men become old prematurely because of four things: fear, grief caused by children, a wicked wife, and wars. We learn about fear from David, as it is written: But David would not go before it to inquire of God; for he was terrified because of the sword of the angel of the Lord (I Chron. 21:30), and that is followed by the verse: And David was old (ibid., v. 31). The consequences of grief brought on by children we learn from Eli. It is written: Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel (I Sam. 2:21). The effect of wars is recorded in what happened to Joshua after he fought with the thirty-one kings: And Joshua was old, well stricken with years (Josh. 23:1). We read about what transpires because of a wicked wife, in the verse: It came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods (I Kings 11:4). However, Abraham’s wife honored him and called him my lord, as is said: And my lord is old (Gen. 18:12). Concerning her Scripture states: A Virtuous woman is a crown to her husband (Prov. 12:4). Hence, it is written of him: And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things (Gen. 24:1).

He sought (to do) penitence, and spake before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of all worlds ! It is I who have sinned; forgive me, I beseech Thee, my sin. His repentance was accepted, and He said to the angel who had destroyed many (Rab) among the people: "Stay thine hand" (1 Chron. 21:15). What is the meaning of || "many" (Rab)? He said to him: Rab (the teacher) has fallen in Israel. What did the angel do? He took his sword and cleaned it with the garment of David. David saw the sword of the angel, and he trembled in all his limbs until his death (as it is said,) "But David could not go before it to inquire of God; for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the Lord" (1 Chron. 21:30).