📖 2 Samuel — Chapter 24 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
2 Samuel 24:1 And Ragain the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
2 Samuel 24:2 For the king said to RJoab the captain of the host, which was with him, TGo now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.
2 Samuel 24:3 And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?
2 Samuel 24:4 Notwithstanding the king’s word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host Rwent out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.
2 Samuel 24:5 And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in RAroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the Triver of Gad, and toward Jazer:
2 Samuel 24:6 Then they came to RGilead, and to the Tland of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,
2 Samuel 24:7 And came to the strong hold of RTyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba.
2 Samuel 24:8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
2 Samuel 24:9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel Reight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
2 Samuel 24:10 And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, RI have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
2 Samuel 24:11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet RGad, David’s seer, saying,
2 Samuel 24:12 Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, RI offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
2 Samuel 24:13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall Rseven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
2 Samuel 24:14 And David said unto Gad, RI am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies Tare great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
2 Samuel 24:15 So Rthe LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.
2 Samuel 24:16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD Rrepented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of TAraunah the Jebusite.
2 Samuel 24:17 And David Rspake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.
2 Samuel 24:18 And RGad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of TAraunah the Jebusite.
2 Samuel 24:19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up Ras the LORD commanded.
2 Samuel 24:20 And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and Rbowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.
2 Samuel 24:21 And Araunah said, RWherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.
2 Samuel 24:22 And Araunah said unto David, RLet my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.
2 Samuel 24:23 All these things did Araunah, Ras a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.
2 Samuel 24:24 And the king said unto Araunah, RNay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
2 Samuel 24:25 And David Rbuilt there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 24:1–9 — David orders a numbering of the people
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Against Joab’s objection, David orders a count across Israel and Judah. The officials return after nine months and twenty days with military totals. The chapter introduces the action within divine anger against Israel; 1 Chronicles 21:1 also names Satan’s provocation. Keep both texts visible without claiming that this chapter explains every aspect of their relationship.
Key Truth: Read difficult parallel accounts carefully rather than smoothing away their wording.
Check What You Remember
1. Who objected to David’s numbering? (2 Samuel 24:3)
Find it in 2 Samuel 24:3 (KJV).
2. How long did the journey take? (2 Samuel 24:8)
Find it in 2 Samuel 24:8 (KJV).
3. How many men of Judah were reported? (2 Samuel 24:9)
Find it in 2 Samuel 24:9 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 24:10–17 — Confession and judgment upon the people
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
David’s conscience troubles him and he confesses. Gad presents three judgments, and David chooses to fall into the LORD’s hand because His mercies are great. A pestilence kills many before the LORD orders the angel to stop at Jerusalem. David asks that judgment fall on him and his house, acknowledging the suffering of the people.
Key Truth: A leader’s wrongdoing can harm people far beyond the leader.
Check What You Remember
1. Which prophet brought God’s message? (2 Samuel 24:11)
Find it in 2 Samuel 24:11 (KJV).
2. Whose mercies did David say were great? (2 Samuel 24:14)
Find it in 2 Samuel 24:14 (KJV).
3. How many died in the pestilence? (2 Samuel 24:15)
Find it in 2 Samuel 24:15 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 24:18–25 — An altar at Araunah’s threshingfloor
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
At Gad’s instruction, David goes to Araunah’s threshingfloor to build an altar. Araunah offers the site and materials, but David insists on paying rather than offering what costs him nothing. David offers sacrifices, and the plague is stayed. The book closes with confession, costly worship, and mercy rather than confidence in military numbers.
Key Truth: Worship and responsibility belong together before God.
Check What You Remember
1. Whose threshingfloor did David purchase? (2 Samuel 24:18)
Find it in 2 Samuel 24:18 (KJV).
2. How many shekels of silver did he pay in this account? (2 Samuel 24:24)
Find it in 2 Samuel 24:24 (KJV).
3. What happened to the plague after the offerings? (2 Samuel 24:25)
Find it in 2 Samuel 24:25 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
1 Chronicles 21:1 — This parallel account names Satan’s provocation of the census; compare the wording carefully.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Where might visible strength or impressive numbers distract you from dependence on God? Consider David’s confession and one concrete way to accept responsibility for how your decisions affect others.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What warning does Joab raise about numbering the people?
2. How does David respond after the numbering?
3. Why does David prefer falling into the LORD’s hand to man’s hand?
4. What does David say when seeing the angel smite the people?
5. Why does David refuse Araunah’s offer to give what is needed?
Notes
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