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2 Samuel 24

25 verses

TL;DR

David orders a census that angers God, leading to a plague; he repents, builds an altar at Araunah's threshingfloor, and God stops the plague.

Summary

David, spurred by the Lord's anger, orders a census of Israel and Judah. Joab and the captains carry out the counting, revealing 800,000 Israelite soldiers and 500,000 from Judah. Distressed by the census, David confesses sin and seeks God's mercy. The prophet Gad presents David with three options; David chooses to submit to God's judgment. A pestilence kills seventy thousand men, and God stops the destruction when David builds an altar on Araunah's threshingfloor after purchasing it for fifty shekels. The altar brings peace offerings and ends the plague, restoring the people to God.

Outline
  1. David orders census and Joab counts the people
  2. David confesses sin and chooses to submit to God’s judgment
  3. Plague strikes Israel, but an altar at Araunah’s threshingfloor stops it
Themes
Human pride and divine judgmentRepentance and mercyThe power of worship and obedience
Keywords
censusplaguealtarAraunahrepentancejudgmentmercy
People
DavidJoabGadAraunah
Places
IsraelJudahJordanAroerGileadDanZidonTyreBeershebaJerusalemAraunah's threshingplace
Things
censusplaguealtarthreshingflooroxenburnt offeringspeace offeringsfifty shekels
Key Verses
  • 2 Samuel 24:1: God’s anger and David’s decision to census the people
  • 2 Samuel 24:10: David’s confession of sin and appeal for mercy
  • 2 Samuel 24:15: The plague that kills seventy thousand men
  • 2 Samuel 24:24: David’s purchase of Araunah’s threshingfloor for fifty shekels
  • 2 Samuel 24:25: The building of the altar and the cessation of the plague
Questions
  • Why did David decide to count the people, and what was the spiritual consequence?
  • How does the story illustrate the relationship between human action and divine judgment?
  • What does the purchase of Araunah’s threshingfloor reveal about genuine worship?
  • In what ways does David’s confession and repentance affect the outcome?
  • How might the narrative be applied to modern faith communities?
Sentiment

mixed
The chapter includes both condemnation of human pride and a gracious restoration through repentance.