2 Samuel 24: David counts the people, the plague, and the altar on Araunah's threshing floor
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
The text says Yahweh's anger burned against Israel again, and he moved David against them to count Israel and Judah. Joab objects, but the king's word wins, and after nine months and twenty days Joab brings the numbers: eight hundred thousand in Israel and five hundred thousand in Judah. David's heart strikes him and he says he has sinned. The word of Yahweh comes to the prophet Gad with three choices for David, and David chooses to fall into Yahweh's hand. Yahweh sends a plague and seventy thousand men die, until Yahweh tells the angel to stop, when the angel is by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. On Gad's word David buys the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver, builds an altar and offers burnt offerings and peace offerings, and the plague stops.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. God's own words are in gold in 2 of the 25 verses: the word of Yahweh to the prophet Gad in verse 12, and Yahweh's words to the angel in verse 16. When Gad brings the message to David in verse 13, and when he tells David to build the altar in verse 18, those are Gad's words, not in gold. In verse 1 the text says Yahweh moved David, "saying, Go, count Israel and Judah": these words are not printed in gold (see the note). David speaks to Joab in verse 2, to Yahweh in verses 10 and 17, to Gad in verse 14, and to Araunah in verses 21 and 24. Joab speaks in verse 3, and Araunah in verses 21 to 23. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Again Yahweh’s anger burned against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, “Go, count Israel and Judah.”
In plain English: Again Yahweh's anger burned against Israel, and he stirred up (this Bible: moved) David against them, saying, "Go, count Israel and Judah."
The Hebrew word: "Moved" is sut, which the dictionary gives as "properly, to prick, i.e. (figuratively) stimulate; by implication, to seduce". The text says Yahweh's anger burned against Israel "again", and that "he" moved David against them. It does not say what the earlier time was, or why Yahweh was angry.
Good to know: tells the same event in other words: "Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to take a census of Israel." Readers explain the two verses in different ways. The text here does not say more.
What changes: The words "Go, count Israel and Judah" come after "he moved David against them, saying". Read one way, they are Yahweh's own words, given as what stirred David. Read the other way, they tell what David was moved to do, in the form of an order. The text does not show Yahweh speaking them to David in a scene, so they are not printed in gold.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
2The king said to Joab the captain of the army, who was with him, “Now go back and forth through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and count the people, that I may know the sum of the people.”
In plain English: The king said to Joab, the commander of the army, who was with him, "Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count (literally: muster) the people, so that I may know how many people there are."
The Hebrew word: "Count" in this verse is from paqad, which the dictionary gives as "to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for". In verse 1 the word is manah, "to weigh out ... also to enumerate or enroll".
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
3Joab said to the king, “Now may Yahweh your God add to the people, however many they may be, one hundred times; and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king delight in this thing?”
In plain English: Joab said to the king, "May Yahweh your God make the people a hundred times as many as they are, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do this?"
Good to know: Joab does not say what is wrong with counting the people. In he asks, "Why will he be a cause of guilt to Israel?"
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
4Notwithstanding, the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the army. Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king to count the people of Israel.
In plain English: But the king's word won out over Joab and the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army went out from the king to count the people of Israel.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
5They passed over the Jordan and encamped in Aroer, on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the valley of Gad, and to Jazer;
In plain English: They crossed the Jordan and camped at Aroer, on the right side (or: south) of the town that is in the middle of the valley of Gad, and on to Jazer.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
6then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi; and they came to Dan Jaan and around to Sidon,
In plain English: Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi. They came to Dan Jaan and around to Sidon.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
7and came to the stronghold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites and of the Canaanites; and they went out to the south of Judah, at Beersheba.
In plain English: They came to the fortress of Tyre and to all the towns of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Then they went out to the south (literally: the Negev) of Judah, at Beersheba.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
8So when they had gone back and forth through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
In plain English: When they had gone through the whole land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
9Joab gave up the sum of the counting of the people to the king; and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
In plain English: Joab gave the king the total number of the people who were counted. In Israel there were eight hundred thousand brave men who could draw the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand.
Good to know: These are the text's own numbers: eight hundred thousand men in Israel and five hundred thousand in Judah. gives "one million one hundred thousand men who drew a sword" in Israel and "four hundred seventy thousand" in Judah, and the next verse says Levi and Benjamin were not counted. The text does not explain the two sets of numbers.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
10David’s heart struck him after he had counted the people. David said to Yahweh, “I have sinned greatly in that which I have done. But now, Yahweh, put away, I beg you, the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.”
In plain English: After David had counted the people, his heart struck him (that is, it troubled him). David said to Yahweh, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, Yahweh, please take away the guilt (this Bible: iniquity) of your servant, because I have acted very foolishly."
Good to know: "David's heart struck him" is the same Hebrew as in , after David cut off the corner of Saul's robe. The text does not say what made counting the people a sin; David's own words say he has sinned and acted foolishly.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
11When David rose up in the morning, Yahweh’s word came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying,
In plain English: When David got up in the morning, the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,
Good to know: Gad the prophet first comes into the story in . Here he is called "David's seer". The word of Yahweh that comes to Gad, in verse 12, is in gold. When Gad tells it to David in verse 13, those are Gad's words.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
12“Go and speak to David, ‘Yahweh says, “I offer you three things. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you.”’”God speaks
In plain English: "Go and tell David, 'Yahweh says: "I am offering you three things (literally: laying three things on you). Choose one of them, and I will do it to you."'"
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
13So Gad came to David, and told him, saying, “Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land? Now answer, and consider what answer I shall return to him who sent me.”
In plain English: So Gad came to David and told him, "Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you run from your enemies for three months while they chase you? Or shall there be three days of disease (this Bible: pestilence) in your land? Now think it over and decide what answer I should take back to the one who sent me."
Good to know: The Hebrew here has "seven years of famine". has "three years of famine", and so does the old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton): "for three years famine in thy land". The text does not explain the two numbers.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
14David said to Gad, “I am in distress. Let us fall now into Yahweh’s hand, for his mercies are great. Let me not fall into man’s hand.”
In plain English: David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Let us fall into Yahweh's hand, because his mercies are great. But do not let me fall into the hands of people (this Bible: man's hand)."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
15So Yahweh sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning even to the appointed time; and seventy thousand men died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba.
In plain English: So Yahweh sent a disease (this Bible: pestilence) on Israel from the morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand men of the people died, from Dan to Beersheba.
Good to know: "The appointed time" is word for word "the time of the appointment". The text does not say what time that was. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "from morning till noon". The text gives the number of the dead as seventy thousand men.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
16When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Yahweh relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who destroyed the people, “It is enough. Now withdraw your hand.” Yahweh’s angel was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.God speaks
In plain English: When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Yahweh was sorry about (this Bible: relented of) the disaster, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, "It is enough. Now hold back (literally: let drop) your hand." The angel of Yahweh was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
The Hebrew word: "Relented" is from nacham, which the dictionary gives as "properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity, console". Yahweh's words to the angel, "It is enough. Now withdraw your hand", are in gold.
Good to know: "Araunah" is Aravnah, which the dictionary gives as "Aravnah (or Arnijah or Ornah), a Jebusite". calls him "Ornan the Jebusite". The text does not say what the angel looked like; says David saw him "having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem".
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
17David spoke to Yahweh when he saw the angel who struck the people, and said, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me, and against my father’s house.”
In plain English: When David saw the angel who was striking the people, he spoke to Yahweh and said, "Look, I have sinned, and I have done wrong. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father's house."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
18Gad came that day to David and said to him, “Go up, build an altar to Yahweh on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”
In plain English: That day Gad came to David and said to him, "Go up and build an altar to Yahweh on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."
Good to know: These are Gad's words, so they are not in gold. Verse 19 says David went up "according to the saying of Gad, as Yahweh commanded". says "Yahweh's angel commanded Gad to tell David" to build the altar.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
19David went up according to the saying of Gad, as Yahweh commanded.
In plain English: So David went up as Gad had told him (this Bible: according to the saying of Gad), as Yahweh had commanded.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
20Araunah looked out, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. Then Araunah went out and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
In plain English: Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him. Then Araunah went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
21Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” David said, “To buy your threshing floor, to build an altar to Yahweh, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people.”
In plain English: Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" David said, "To buy your threshing floor, to build an altar to Yahweh, so that the plague may be stopped from striking the people."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
22Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Behold, the cattle for the burnt offering, and the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood.
In plain English: Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take it and offer up whatever seems good to him. Look, here are the cattle for the burnt offering, and the threshing sledges and the oxen's yokes (literally: the oxen's gear) for the wood.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
23All this, O king, does Araunah give to the king.” Araunah said to the king, “May Yahweh your God accept you.”
In plain English: All of this, O king, Araunah gives to the king." Araunah also said to the king, "May Yahweh your God accept you."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
24The king said to Araunah, “No, but I will most certainly buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to Yahweh my God which cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
In plain English: The king said to Araunah, "No, I will surely buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to Yahweh my God that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
Good to know: The text here says David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. says "David gave to Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the place". The text does not say how the two fit.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
25David built an altar to Yahweh there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So Yahweh was entreated for the land, and the plague was removed from Israel.
In plain English: David built an altar to Yahweh there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So Yahweh answered prayer (this Bible: was entreated) for the land, and the plague was stopped in Israel (this Bible: removed from Israel).
Good to know: "Was entreated" is the word in , "God answered prayer for the land"; see the note there. says Solomon later built Yahweh's house in Jerusalem "on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) adds a line to this verse: "and Solomon made an addition to the altar afterwards, for it was little at first".
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.