Again the LORD's anger burns against Israel; He incites David to number Israel and Judah. Despite Joab's objection, David orders a census; after nine months and twenty days, Joab reports eight hundred thousand warriors in Israel and five hundred thousand in Judah. David's heart strikes him afterward, and he confesses he has sinned greatly. The prophet Gad offers three choices: three years of famine, three months of flight before enemies, or three days of pestilence; David chooses to fall into the LORD's hand rather than man's. Pestilence kills seventy thousand from Dan to Beersheba. When the destroying angel reaches Jerusalem's threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the LORD relents. David sees the angel and offers to take the blame; Gad instructs him to build an altar there. David purchases the threshing floor and oxen for fifty shekels of silver, builds the altar, offers sacrifices, and the plague is averted from Israel.
Read 2 Samuel Chapter 24 Summary
Characters in This Chapter
King of Israel whose reign is chronicled with both triumphs and failures
Woman with whom David committed adultery, later mother of Solomon
Prophet who confronted David about his sin and delivered God's covenant
David's son who rebelled and tried to take the throne
David's military commander, loyal but sometimes ruthless
Son of Jacob, Ancestor of David and Christ
Places in This Chapter
Beersheba, meaning "Well of the Oath," was the southernmost major city of Israel. Abraham and Isaac both dug wells and made covenants here. It marked the traditional southern boundary of Israel in the phrase "from Dan to Beersheba." Hagar wandered in its wilderness, and Elijah fled here.
Gilead was a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, known for its healing balm and rich pastures. It was home to the prophet Elijah and the judge Jephthah. Jacob and Laban made their covenant at a cairn of stones they named Galeed (Gilead). The region was allocated to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh.
Position in Book
Various events including famine, David's song, last words, census and plague.