The Book of second 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.
[2] For 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 Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.
[3] And 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?
[4] Notwithstanding 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.
[5] And 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:
[6] Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan, and about to Zidon,
[7] And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hibites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beer-sheba.
[8] So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
[9] And 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.

1) Prideful Position (Vs. 1-9)

(1 Chr. 21:1) Satan Motivated David to take a census to number the people. God allowed it, David gave into it.

(see James 1:13-15)

(Ex.30.12) It was up to the Lord to command a counting a ransom was to be given to make atonement

Half Shekel - - But David had no orders from God to count.

Also David would have proud confidence in his own strength, take glory in himself (vainglory at best).

NKJV capt. “He” . . . but God is not the Author of sin, although He will allow you to make a choice .

Remember it is satan that motivated David, It is satan that put into Judas’ heart to betray Jesus.

Joab tactfully asks David to reconsider this foolish desire to count the nation.

Joab even hints at David ‘s motive “that the eyes of my Lord the King may see it”

( Joab desires Israel to increase and David live to see it).

But David’s will prevailed . . . . evidently even the captains of the army tried to warn David.

The census takers went through all the land.

It took 9 months and 20 days and the sum was 800,000 Valiant men in Israel that drew the sword.

(and the men of Judah was 500,000. )

For almost 10 months, David could’ve quit this, but would not resign his position, his stance

With 1.3 million fighting men, how many women & children - (maybe 5 - 6 million total).

[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.
[11] For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,
[12] Go 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.
[13] So 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.
[14] And 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.

2) Pronounced Punishment (Vs. 10-14)

The man after God’s own heart was not sinless, but was sensitive to sin when he committed it.

David now sees his own pride & vainglory & confesses. (But there are circumstances to our sin)

The prophet Gad sent by God comes to David with the Word of the Lord “choose one of 3 punishments”

7 yrs. Famine . . . . Sure death of some, the wealthy and resourceful would live.

Israel would depend on neighboring nations for food.

War & Flee 3 Months . . . Sure death of some, mostly soldiers.

Israel would contend with enemies among neighboring nations.

3 days plague . . .Sure death of some, but anyone could be struck, rich or poor, royalty or pauper

David is told to give his answer to the prophet rather than directly to God.

David confesses his sin, but asks to fall into the merciful hand of God, rather than Man’s hand.

This means David chose 3 days of plague.

The other choices protected David & his family from danger & he knew he needed to expose himself to

God’s chastisement.

[15] So 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 Beer-sheba seventy thousand men.
[16] And 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.
[17] And 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.

3) Prompt Pestilence (Vs. 15-17)

Great Calamity - from that morning for 3 days there was a great pestilence

70,000 men died from this devastating plague.

The angel was ready to destroy Jerusalem but God in His mercy stopped , “It is enough”.

David sees the Angel of the Lord & asks that the punishment be put upon David & his house.

But God in His mercy “Stayed his Hand”

[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.
[19] And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded.
[20] And 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.
[21] And 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.
[22] And 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.
[23] All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.
[24] And 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.
[25] And 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.

4) Peaceful Pardon (Vs. 18-25)

Where David saw the angel of the Lord, God wants David to build an altar and worship.

David wants to change this place from a wheat and chaff separator to a place of worship and sacrifice. David went himself.

Araunah ( a king of Jebusites) tries to give David the land & oxen to sacrifice.

David will not accept it as a gift then offer God a sacrifice (This would have been Araunah’s sacrifice)

David knew that a gift & sacrifice to the Lord should cost David something.

If not God would not accept it.

Where there is love to Jesus, it will cost us something (Thus David purchases this threshing floor)

50 shekels in silver & ( 1 Chr. 21) 600 shekels is of gold.

David built an Altar there and made sacrifice.

The death of 70,000., did not atone for his sin, atonement only by the blood of an approved substitute.

Blood and Burnt offering atone for sin. Peace offerings, are fellowship with God.

The plague was ended, God accepted David’s sacrifice.

Conclusion: I Chr. 21:28 - 22:5 This Land would become the site of Solomon’s temple one day.

(2 Chr. 3:1) Threshing Floor was on Mt. Moriah . . . Gen 22:2 Where Jesus Died Gen 22:14