2 Samuel24
English Standard Version
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1 , the of the Lord was against , and he against them, , , and .
2 So the to , the of the , who was with him, Go all the of , from to , and the , that I may the of the .
3 But to the , May the Lord your to the a as they are, while the of my the still it, but why does my the in this ?
4 But the against and the of the . So and the of the from the of the to the of .
5 They the and from , and the that is in the of the , toward and on to .
6 Then they to , and to in the of the ; and they to , and from Dan they went to ,
7 and to the of and to all the of the and ; and they to the of at .
8 So when they had through all the , they to at the of and .
9 And the of the of the to the : in there were who the , and the of were .
10 But him he had the . And to the Lord, I have in what I have . But , O Lord, take the of your , for I have done .
11 And when in the , the of the Lord came to the , , ,
12 and to , Thus the Lord, things I you. of them, that I may it to you.
13 So to and him, and to him, Shall three of to you in your ? Or will you your while they you? Or shall there be ’ in your ? Now , and what I shall to him who me.
14 Then to , I am in . Let us into the of the Lord, for his is ; but let me not into the of .
15 So the Lord a on from the until the . And there of the from to .
16 And when the his toward to it, the Lord from the and to the who was , It is ; now your . And the of the Lord was by the of the .
17 Then to the Lord when he the who was the , and , Behold, I have , and I have . But these , what have they ? Please let your be against me and against my .
18 And that to and to him, Go , an to the Lord on the of the .
19 So at , as the Lord .
20 And when , he the and his toward him. And and to the with his to the .
21 And , Why has my the to his ? , To the from you, in order to an to the Lord, that the may be from the .
22 Then to , Let my the and what seems . are the for the and the and the of the for the .
23 All this, O , to the . And to the , May the Lord your you.
24 But the to , No, but will it from you for a . I will not to the Lord my that cost me . So the and the for of .
25 And there an to the Lord and and . So the Lord responded to the for the , and the was from .
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2 Samuel 24Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Samuel 24. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David numbers the people. (1–9). He chooses the pestilence. (10–15). The staying the pestilence. (16, 17). David's sacrifice, The plague removed. (18–25).
vv1-9
For the people's sin David was left to act wrong, and in his chastisement they received punishment. This example throws light upon God's government of the world, and furnishes a useful lesson. The pride of David's heart, was his sin in numbering of the people. He thought thereby to appear the more formidable, trusting in an arm of flesh more than he should have done, and though he had written so much of trusting in God only. God judges not of sin as we do. What appears to us harmless, or, at least, but a small offence, may be a great sin in the eye of God, who discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. Even ungodly men can discern evil tempers and wrong conduct in believers, of which they themselves often remain unconscious. But God seldom allows those whom he loves the pleasures they sinfully covet.
vv10-15
It is well, when a man has sinned, if he has a heart within to smite him for it. If we confess our sins, we may pray in faith that God would forgive them, and take away, by pardoning mercy, that sin which we cast away by sincere repentance. What we make the matter of our pride, it is just in God to take from us, or make bitter to us, and make it our punishment. This must be such a punishment as the people have a large share in, for though it was David's sin that opened the sluice, the sins of the people all contributed to the flood. In this difficulty, David chose a judgment which came immediately from God, whose mercies he knew to be very great, rather than from men, who would have triumphed in the miseries of Israel, and have been thereby hardened in their idolatry. He chose the pestilence; he and his family would be as much exposed to it as the poorest Israelite; and he would continue for a shorter time under the Divine rebuke, however severe it was. The rapid destruction by the pestilence shows how easily God can bring down the proudest sinners, and how much we owe daily to the Divine patience.
vv16-17
Perhaps there was more wickedness, especially more pride, and that was the sin now chastised, in Jerusalem than elsewhere, therefore the hand of the destroyer is stretched out upon that city; but the Lord repented him of the evil, changed not his mind, but his way. In the very place where Abraham was stayed from slaying his son, this angel, by a like countermand, was stayed from destroying Jerusalem. It is for the sake of the great Sacrifice, that our forfeited lives are preserved from the destroying angel. And in David is the spirit of a true shepherd of the people, offering himself as a sacrifice to God, for the salvation of his subjects.
Key Words
יָסַף: to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
אַף: properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
חָרָה: to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
סוּת: properly, to prick, i.e. (figuratively) stimulate; by implication, to seduce
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
יָלַךְ: to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
מָנָה: properly, to weigh out; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll
יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
Cross References
2 Samuel 24Parallel account explicitly identifies Satan as the active agent/provoker of the numbering.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel text clarifies the choice between three years of famine, three months of flight, or pestilence.
Supported by JFB
Identifies Araunah's threshingfloor (Moriah) as the site where Solomon built the temple.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel passage emphasizing David's refusal to offer to God that which cost him nothing.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels the idiom of God stirring up a king to act, illustrating permission vs temptation.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Theological parallel regarding God's providential/secret agency (Shimei's cursing) over evil acts.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel recording Joab's strong protest and warning that the census would cause guilt.
Supported by JFB
Provides the differing numbers from Chronicles; reconciled by military vs non-military inclusion.
Supported by JFB
David declares Araunah's threshingfloor as the house of God and altar of burnt offering.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The reference of 'again' links back to the prior divine wrath seen in the famine.
Supported by JFB
Prescribes a ransom-money requirement when numbering Israel to prevent a plague.
Supported by JFB
Confirms the census was never fully completed because wrath fell upon Israel.
Supported by JFB
Mount Moriah connects the place of Isaac's binding to the site of David's altar.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Geographical match for Aroer and the river of Gad (Arnon) where the census began.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explains 'Tahtim-hodshi' as the territory of the Hagarenes conquered during Saul's reign.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel describing the angel sent to destroy Jerusalem and God staying his hand.
Supported by JFB