Summary: God told David to perform a census (v.1). Joab wants to know why David wants to count numbers (v.3). David realized that this was a mistake (v.10). God gives David three options of discipline for what happened (v.12). 70,000 people died as a result (v.15). David wants to take the punishment for the sake of the people (as a type of Christ? See verse 17). David’s sacrifices pulled the plague off of Israel (v.25).
(24:1) God was angry with Israel. Consequently, to judge the people, God told David to take the census.
(24:2) David has Joab take the census.
(24:3-4) Joab pushes back on this census, but David insists.
(24:5-9) Joab travels all around Israel, and he comes up with a figure of 800,000 warriors in Israel, and another 500,000 in Judah.
(24:10) Why was taking a census such a serious sin?
(24:11-13) The prophet Gad speaks for God to David. God gives David three different options for the judgment that he can face.
(24:14) David learns the lesson: He shouldn’t trust in his large number of soldiers, but in God alone.
(24:15) God sent a “pestilence” (i.e. a plague) that killed 70,000 men. Perhaps, God killed the men to show that their power wasn’t in their army, but in him alone. God could snap his fingers and have the army dismantled, but God’s power would never disappear.
(24:16) God spared Jerusalem.
(24:17) David intercedes for the people—much like Moses (Ex. 32:32) and much like Jesus.
(24:18-19) The prophet Gad tells David to construct an altar to God (v.18), and David agrees (v.19).
(24:20-23) David tries to buy the plot of land off of Araunah the Jebusite (v.21), but Araunah offers it to him for free (vv.22-23).
(24:24) David refuses to accept it for free, and he pays him fifty shekels.
(24:25) David gives the burnt offerings, but the text says that God was moved by David’s “prayers” for the land. God took the plague away.
James is an elder at Dwell Community Church, where he teaches classes in theology, apologetics, and weekly Bible studies.
