2 Samuel 24

King James Version

Full text for 2 Samuel Chapter 24

1¶ And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

2For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which [was] with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.

3And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see [it]: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?

4Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.

5And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that [lieth] in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:

6Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,

7And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, [even] to Beersheba.

8So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

9And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah [were] five hundred thousand men.

10¶ And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

11For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

12Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three [things]; choose thee one of them, that I may [do it] unto thee.

13So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.

14And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies [are] great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.

15So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.

16And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.

17And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.

18¶ And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.

19And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded.

20And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.

21And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

22And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what [seemeth] good unto him: behold, [here be] oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and [other] instruments of the oxen for wood.

23All these [things] did Araunah, [as] a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.

24And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy [it] of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

25And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The chapter recounts David's sin in numbering Israel, which kindled the LORD's anger. As a consequence, David was given a choice of three judgments, and he chose a three-day pestilence, which killed seventy thousand men. The plague ceased when David, at the LORD's command through Gad, built an altar and offered sacrifices on Araunah's threshingfloor, thereby entreating the LORD for the land.

Medium Summary

The narrative begins with the LORD's anger against Israel, leading David to command a census of the people, despite Joab's reservations. After nine months, the census revealed a vast number of valiant men, but David's conscience immediately smote him, and he confessed his great sin to the LORD. The prophet Gad then presented David with three divine judgments: seven years of famine, three months of fleeing enemies, or three days of pestilence. David chose the pestilence, trusting in the LORD's great mercies, which resulted in the death of seventy thousand men across Israel. When the angel of the LORD stretched his hand toward Jerusalem, the LORD repented of the evil and commanded the angel to stop. David then interceded for his people, offering himself and his house as atonement. Finally, David was instructed to build an altar on Araunah's threshingfloor, where he purchased the site and offered burnt and peace offerings, leading to the staying of the plague.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with the LORD's anger being kindled against Israel, prompting David to command a census of the people, a decision Joab questioned but ultimately obeyed. For nearly ten months, Joab and his captains traversed the land, from Dan to Beersheba, numbering the tribes of Israel and Judah. Upon receiving the census results, which reported eight hundred thousand valiant men in Israel and five hundred thousand in Judah, David's heart smote him, and he confessed his great sin and foolishness to the LORD. The prophet Gad then came to David, presenting him with a divine choice of three judgments: seven years of famine, three months of flight before enemies, or three days of pestilence. David, in his distress, chose to fall into the hand of the LORD, acknowledging His great mercies, rather than into the hand of man. Consequently, the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel, which claimed the lives of seventy thousand men from Dan to Beersheba. As the angel of the LORD prepared to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD repented of the evil and commanded the angel to cease. The angel stood by the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite. David, witnessing the angel, cried out to the LORD, accepting responsibility for the sin and pleading for the people, asking that the judgment fall upon him and his house instead. Gad then instructed David to build an altar on Araunah's threshingfloor. David went to Araunah, who offered the threshingfloor, oxen, and wood freely for the sacrifice. However, David insisted on purchasing them, declaring he would not offer to the LORD that which cost him nothing. He bought the threshingfloor and oxen for fifty shekels of silver, built an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Through these acts, the LORD was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

Core Concepts

  • The Census (Numbering of Israel)David's decision to number the people, despite Joab's objections, is presented as a sin that provoked the LORD's anger, leading to divine judgment upon Israel.
  • Divine Judgment and ChoiceThe LORD, through the prophet Gad, offers David three specific forms of punishment for his sin: famine, flight from enemies, or pestilence, highlighting the concept of consequences for disobedience.
  • David's Repentance and IntercessionDavid's immediate remorse and confession of sin, followed by his willingness to bear the punishment himself rather than see his people suffer, demonstrate his role as a repentant leader and intercessor.
  • The PestilenceA severe plague sent by the LORD as a direct consequence of David's sin, resulting in the death of seventy thousand men, illustrating the gravity of divine wrath.
  • The Threshingfloor of AraunahThis specific location becomes sacred as it is chosen by divine instruction for the building of an altar, marking the place where the plague was stayed and where David made atonement.
  • Sacrifice and AtonementDavid's act of purchasing the threshingfloor and offering burnt and peace offerings demonstrates the principle that atonement requires a costly sacrifice, leading to the staying of the plague.
  • God's Mercy and RepentanceDespite the severe judgment, the LORD is depicted as repenting of the evil and showing mercy by stopping the plague, especially in response to David's intercession and sacrifice.