48:1David took command as he had in former days. In recent years, his life had been characterized by indecisiveness and moral paralysis. At this time he began to take charge and do his duty.
Life Application Study Bible2 SamuelChapter 24
2 Samuel 24
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 504, 505, 506
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242 Samuel 24
David Takes a Census
124 Once again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he caused David to harm them by taking a census. 6Go and count the people of Israel and Judah,” the LORD told him. 23:18 As in a few Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac version; most Hebrew manuscripts read the Three. 23:19 As in Syriac version; Hebrew reads the Three. 23:20a Or son of Jehoiada, son of Ish-hai. 23:20b Or two sons of Ariel, 23:26 As in parallel text at 1 Chr 11:27 (see also 1 Chr 27:10); Hebrew reads from Pailti. 23:27 As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 1 Chr 11:29); Hebrew reads Mebunnai. 23:29a As in some Hebrew manuscripts (see also 1 Chr 11:30): most Hebrew manuscripts read Heleb, 23:29b As in parallel text at 1 Chr 11:31; Hebrew reads Itai, 23:30a As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 1 Chr 11:32); Hebrew reads Hiddai. 23:30b Or from the ravines of Gaash. 23:33 As in parallel text at 7Chr 11:34; Hebrew reads Jonathan, Shammah; some Greek manuscripts read Jonathan son of Shammah. 2So the king said to Joab and the commanders* of the army, “Take a census of all the tribes of Israel—from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south—so I may know how many people there are.” 3But Joab replied to the king, “May the LORD your God let you live to see a hundred times as many people as there are now! But why, my lord the king, do you want to do this?” 4But the king insisted that they take the census, so Joab and the commanders of the army went out to count the people of Israel. 5First they crossed the Jordan and camped at Aroer, south of the town in the valley, in the direction of Gad. Then they went on to Jazer, Sthen to Gilead in the land of Tahtim-hodshi* and to Dan-jaan and around to Sidon. 7 Then they came to the stronghold of Tyre, and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went south to Judah* as far as Beersheba. 8Having gone through the entire land for nine months and twenty days, they returned to Jerusalem. Joab reported the number of people to the king. There were 800,000 capable warriors in Israel who could handle a sword, and 500,000 in Judah.
Judgment for David's Sin
1oBut after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him. And he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, Lor, for doing this foolish thing.” 11The next morning the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, who was David's seer. This was the message: 12“Go and say to David, ‘This is what the LORD says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.’” 13S9 Gad came to David and asked him, “Will you choose three* years of famine throughout your land, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land? Think this over and decide what answer I should give the LORD who sent me.” 14“T'm ina desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.” 15So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days.* A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south. 16But as the angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented and said to the death angel, “Stop! That is enough!” At that moment the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 17When David saw the angel, he said to the LORD, “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? Let your anger fall against me and my family.” ‘
David Builds an Altar
1818That day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 19So David went up to do what the LORD had commanded him. 20When Araunah saw the king and his men coming toward him, he came and bowed before the king with his face to the ground. 21“Why have you come, my lord the king?” Araunah asked. David replied, “I have come to buy your threshing floor and to build an altar to the LORD there, so that he will stop the plague.” 22"Take it, my lord the king, and use it as you wish,” Araunah said to David. “Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and you can use the threshing boards and ox yokes for wood to build a fire on the altar. 231 will give it all to you, Your Majesty, and may the LORD your God accept your sacrifice.” 24But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the LORD my God that have cost me nothing.” So David paid him fifty pieces of silver* for the threshing floor and the oxen. 25David built an altar there to the LORD and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the LORD answered his prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
Isaac (Genesis 22:1-18). After David’s death, Solomon built theTemple on this spot. Centuries later, Jesus would teach andpreach here.
Textual footnotes
- Israelites first entered the Promised Land under Joshua, they
- had been struggling to unite the nation and drive out the wicked
- inhabitants. Now, after more than 400 years, Israel was finally
- at peace. David had accomplished what no leader before him,
- judge or king, had done. His administration was run on the prin-
- ciple of dedication to God and to the well-being of the people.
- Yet David also sinned. Despite his sins, however, the Bible calis
- David a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22)
- because when he sinned, he recognized'it and confessed his sins
- to God. David committed his life to God and remained loyal to
- him throughout his lifetime. Psalms gives an even deeper insight
- into David's love for God.
- 24:2 As in Greek version (see also 24:4 and 1 Chr 21:2); Hebrew reads Joab the commander.
- 24:6 Greek version reads to Gilead and to Kadesh in the land of the Hittites.
- 24:7 Or they went to the Negev of Judah.
- 24:13 As in Greek version (see also 1 Chr 21:12); Hebrew reads seven.
- 24:15 Hebrew for the designated time.
- 24:24 Hebrew 50 shekels of silver, about 20 ounces or 570 grams in weight.
- 24:25 The book of 2 Samuel describes David's reign. Since the
Life Application Notes 7 notes
24:1-3I What was wrong with taking a census? A census was commanded in Numbers to prepare an army for conquering the Promised Land (Numbers 1:2; 26:2). A census amounted to a draft or conscription for the army. The land was now at peace, So there was no need to enlist troops. Israel had extended its borders and become a recognized power. David's sin was pride and ambition in counting the people so that he could glory in the size of his army, its power and defenses. By doing this, he put his faith in the size of his army rather than in God’s ability to protect them regardless of their number. Even Joab knew a census was wrong, but David did not heed his advice. We sin in a similar way when we place our security in money, possessions, or the might of our nation.
35:9-21records how cities of refuge protected people from revenge and how blood avengers were to pursue murderers. This woman was asking for the king’s protection against any claim against her.
24:12-14Both David and the Israelites were guilty of sin (24:1). David’s sin was pride, but the Bible does not say why God was angry with the people of Israel. Perhaps it was due to their support of the rebellions of Absalom (chapters 15-18) and Sheba (chapter 20), or perhaps they put their security in military and financial prosperity rather than in God, as David did. God dealt with the whole nation through David, who exemplified the national sin of pride. God gave David three choices. Each was a form of punishment God had told the people they could expect if they disobeyed his laws (plague—Deuteronomy 28:20-22; tamine—28:23, 24; war—28:25, 26). David wisely chose the form of punishment that came most directly from God. He knew how brutal and harsh men in war could be, and he also knew God’s great mercy. When you sin greatly, turn back to God. To be punished by him is far better than to take your chances without him.
43:14,15Love and lust are very different. After Amnon raped his half sister, his “love” turned to hate. Although he had claimed to be in love, he was actually overcome by lust. Love is patient; lust requires immediate satisfaction. Love is kind; lust is harsh. Love does not demand its own way; lust does. You can read about the characteristics of real love in 1 Corinthians 13. Lust may feel like love at first, but when physically expressed, it results in self-disgust and hatred of the other person. If you just can’t wait, what you feel is not true love.
24:16-18For more information on giants, see 1 Samuel 17:4-7 and the note on Genesis 6:4. Psaims than anyone else. Writing a song like this was not unusual for David. This royal hymn of thanksgiving is almost identical to Psalm 18. (For other songs in the Bible, see the chart in Exodus 15, p. 119.) Rock, Fortress, Savior, Protection, Shield, Power that Saves, Place of Safety, Refuge, Lamp Saving, Worthy of praise, Hearing, Angry (against enemies), Rescuing, Rewarding, Seeing, Faithful, Showing (revealing) himself, Shrewd, Powerful, Strong, Perfect, Pure, Flawless, Shielding (us from enemies), Giving, Gentle, Preserving, Living
24:18Many believe that this threshing floor where David built the altar is the location where Abraham nearly sacrificed his son
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Personality profile · page 505
One way to understand David's success is to notice the kind of men who foltowed him. During the time he was being hunted by Saul, David gradually built a fighting force of several hundred men. Some were relatives, others were outcasts of society, many were in trouble with the law. They all had at least one trait in common—complete devotion to David. Their achievements made them famous. Among these men were elite military groups like “the Three” and “the Thirty.” They were true heroes. Scripture gives the impression that these men were motivated to greatness by the personal qualities of their leader. David inspired them to achieve beyond their goals and meet their true potential. Likewise, the leaders we follow and the causes to which we commit ourselves will affect our lives. David’s effectiveness was clearly connected with his awareness of God’s leading. He was a good leader when he was following his Leader. Do you know whom the people you respect most are following? Your answer should help you decide whether they deserve your loyalty. Do you also recognize God's leading in your life? No one can lead you to excellence as your Creator can.
Strengths and accomplishments
• Able soldiers and military leaders
• Shared many special skills
• Though frequently outnumbered, were consistently victorious
• Loyal to David
Weakness and mistake
• Often had little in common beyond their toyalty to David and their military expertise
Lessons from their lives
• Greatness is often inspired by the quality and character of the leadership
• Even a smail force of able and loyal men can accomplish great feats
Vital statistics
• Where: They came from all over Israel (primarily Judah and Benjamin) and from some of the other surrounding nations as well
• Occupations: Various backgrounds—almost all were fugitives
Key verses
“So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men” (1 Samuel 22:1, 2),
Their stories are told in 1: Samuel 22—2 Samuel 23:39. They are also mentioned in 1 Chronicles 11—12.
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Study feature · page 506
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