2 Samuel 24

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 24 of 24

1 And again the anger of Jehovah burned against Israel, and moved David against them, to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

2 And the king said to Joab, the commander of the army that was with him, Go about now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people.

3 And Joab said to the king, Yea, may Jehovah your God add to the people like them, however many they may be, and like them a hundred times. And may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king delight in this thing?

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Chapter Summary

David, tempted by Satan, forces Joab to number the people. After the death of seventy thousand, David by repentance prevents the destruction of Jerusalem. David, by Jehovah's direction, purchases Araunah's threshing-floor; where having sacrificed, the plague is stayed.

Key Hebrew Words

מִסְפָּר number, census H4557 · TWOT 1540f
חָטָא to sin H2398 · TWOT 638
דֶּ֫בֶר plague, pestilence H1698 · TWOT 399b
רַחֲמִים mercies, compassion H7356 · TWOT 2146b
גֹּ֫רֶן threshing-floor H1637 · TWOT 383a
מִזְבֵּחַ altar H4196 · TWOT 525b

People & Context

David

King who orders the census, confesses his sin, and builds an altar that stays the plague

Joab

Army commander who objects to the census but carries it out at the king's command

Gad

The prophet and David's seer who brings Jehovah's three choices and directs him to build the altar

Araunah

The Jebusite who owns the threshing-floor David buys for fifty shekels to raise the altar

Timeline

David Orders a Census

Jehovah's anger burns against Israel, moving David to order Joab to number the people of Israel and Judah. Joab questions the command, but David's word prevails.

2 Samuel 24:1-4
Joab Conducts the Census

Joab and the army commanders travel throughout the land for nine months and twenty days, returning to report 800,000 swordsmen in Israel and 500,000 in Judah.

2 Samuel 24:5-9
David Repents of the Census

After the census, David is conscience-stricken and confesses his foolish sin to Jehovah, asking Him to take away his iniquity.

2 Samuel 24:10

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