2 Samuel 24

In this chapter, David orders a census of Israel and Judah, which angers God because it reflects David’s reliance on human strength rather than on God. As a result, God sends a plague upon Israel as punishment. David takes responsibility for his sin, and the plague is eventually stopped after he builds an altar to the Lord at Araunah’s threshing floor.

2 Samuel 24:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Again the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”
2 So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Now go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people.”
3 And Joab said to the king, “Now may the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times more than there are, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king desire this thing?”
4 Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the army. Therefore Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king to count the people of Israel.
5 And they crossed over the Jordan and camped in Aroer, on the right side of the town which is in the midst of the ravine of Gad, and toward Jazer.

The passage begins by indicating that God's anger was aroused against Israel, though the specific sin of the nation is not mentioned in this account. It is implied that there was a broader disobedience or unfaithfulness among the people, which prompted God to allow a judgment. The census commanded by David was the vehicle through which this judgment unfolded.

While 2 Samuel says that God "moved" David to conduct the census, 1 Chronicles 21:1 clarifies that it was Satan who provoked David. God allowed Satan to tempt David, possibly as a way of bringing judgment upon both David and Israel. The sin of the census itself is typically understood as David's failure to trust in God's strength and provision, relying instead on the numbers of his military forces, which would have been a reflection of pride or misplaced security.

Though Joab and other military leaders advised against it, David insisted, showing his determination to proceed, even against sound counsel. This action was ultimately part of God's plan to address the sin within the nation of Israel, even though the specifics of Israel’s sin are not made explicit in the text.

2 Samuel 24:6-9 (NKJV)
6 Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi; they came to Dan Jaan and around to Sidon;
7 and they came to the stronghold of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Then they went out to South Judah as far as Beersheba.
8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
9 Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to the king. And there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

The census covers a wide geographical area, including Israel's northern and southern borders, taking nearly ten months to complete. The final count reveals a vast army, which in human terms would be a significant source of pride and security. However, David’s reliance on these numbers rather than on God sets the stage for the impending judgment. The census itself is not the issue but the heart behind it, as David’s focus shifts from faith to human strength.

2 Samuel 24:10 (NKJV)
10 And David’s heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O Lord, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”

After receiving the results of the census, David immediately feels remorse, recognizing his sin. His conscience convicts him, and he confesses his wrongdoing to God, acknowledging that his actions were not only foolish but sinful. This shows David’s sensitivity to God’s displeasure, but the consequences of his actions cannot be undone by mere confession. David now seeks God’s mercy to remove the iniquity.

2 Samuel 24:11-14 (NKJV)
11 Now when David arose in the morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying,
12 “Go and tell David, ‘Thus says the Lord: I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you.’ ”
13 So Gad came to David and told him; and he said to him, “Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or shall you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ plague in your land? Now consider and see what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.”
14 And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

God offers David three choices for punishment: seven years of famine, three months of fleeing from his enemies, or three days of plague. All options involve severe consequences for David and the people of Israel. David, recognizing God’s mercy, prefers to fall into God’s hands rather than face the unpredictability of men. His decision to trust in God’s compassion even in judgment highlights his understanding of God’s character.

2 Samuel 24:15-17 (NKJV)
15 So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel from the morning till the appointed time. From Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men of the people died.
16 And when the angel stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “It is enough; now restrain your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
17 Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, “Surely I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, be against me and against my father’s house.”

In these verses, David witnesses the devastating consequences of his sin, as 70,000 men die due to the plague. God had allowed this judgment as a response not only to David's census but also to Israel's prior sin, which had aroused His anger. While the specific sin of Israel is not mentioned, it is clear that both the nation and its leader needed correction.

David’s plea in verse 17 highlights his sense of responsibility as a leader. He acknowledges his personal sin in ordering the census and expresses anguish over the innocent people suffering. He asks that the punishment fall on him and his family instead, demonstrating his remorse and his concern for the well-being of his people.

Though David sinned, God’s mercy is evident when He relents from further destruction after seeing the plague's effect on Jerusalem. The event teaches both David and the nation a powerful lesson: trust in God, not in human strength or numbers. This judgment serves as a deterrent for future pride and disobedience, reinforcing the need for leaders and the people to remain faithful and dependent on God.

Ultimately, while the consequences were severe, they were meant to teach both the stubborn nation and David to avoid similar mistakes, guiding them toward greater humility and faith in God’s provision.

2 Samuel 24:18-21 (NKJV)
18 And Gad came that day to David and said to him, “Go up, erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”
19 So David, according to the word of Gad, went up as the Lord commanded.
20 Now Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming toward him. So Araunah went out and bowed before the king with his face to the ground.
21 Then Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” And David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to the Lord, that the plague may be withdrawn from the people.”

God instructs David, through the prophet Gad, to build an altar on Araunah’s threshing floor as a means to stop the plague. David obediently goes to purchase the site. Araunah, out of respect for the king, comes out to meet David and offers the threshing floor. David’s intention is clear: to seek God’s mercy through sacrifice and intercession on behalf of the people.

2 Samuel 24:22-25 (NKJV)
22 Now Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up whatever seems good to him. Look, here are oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing implements and the yokes of the oxen for wood.
23 All these, O king, Araunah has given to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May the Lord your God accept you.”
24 Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
25 And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel.

Araunah offers the threshing floor and the necessary items for the sacrifice free of charge, but David insists on paying, recognizing that his offering must cost him something to be meaningful before God. David purchases the land, builds an altar, and offers sacrifices. This act of worship and repentance leads to God relenting, and the plague is stopped. David’s actions demonstrate his commitment to true worship and his understanding of the costliness of atonement.