2 Samuel 24:17

17 Und als David den Engel sah, der unter dem Volke schlug, sprach er zu Jehova und sagte: Siehe, ich habe gesündigt, und ich habe verkehrt gehandelt; aber diese Schafe, was haben sie getan? Es sei doch deine Hand wider mich, und wider das Haus meines Vaters!

2 Samuel 24:17 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 24:17

And David spake unto the Lord
In prayer; he and the elders of Israel being clothed in sackcloth, and fallen on their faces, he prayed, not unto the angel, but to Jehovah that sent him; see ( 1 Chronicles 21:16 1 Chronicles 21:17 ) ;

when he saw the angel that smote the people;
in the air over Jerusalem, with a drawn sword in his hand, which made him appear terrible:

and said, lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly;
in numbering the people:

but these sheep, what have they done?
he looked upon himself as the only transgressor, and his people as innocent, and as harmless as sheep; he thought of no sins but his own; these were uppermost in his mind, and lay heavy on his conscience; and it grieved him extremely the his people should suffer on his account: but they were not so innocent as he thought and suggests; and it was not only for his, but their sins, this evil came; he was suffered to do what he did, to bring upon them deserved punishment for their rebellion against him, and other sins; however, this shows the high opinion he had of them, the great affection he had for them, and his sympathy with them in this time of distress:

let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's
house;
let me and mine die, and not they; a type of Christ, the good Shepherd, willing to lay down his life for the sheep, and suffer in their stead, that they might go free.

2 Samuel 24:17 In-Context

15 Da sandte Jehova eine Pest unter Israel, vom Morgen an bis zur bestimmten Zeit; und es starben von dem Volke, von Dan bis Beerseba, siebzigtausend Mann.

16 Und als der Engel seine Hand gegen Jerusalem ausstreckte, um es zu verderben, da reute Jehova des Übels, und er sprach zu dem Engel, der unter dem Volke verderbte: Genug! Ziehe jetzt deine Hand ab. Der Engel Jehovas war aber bei der Tenne Arawnas, des Jebusiters.

17 Und als David den Engel sah, der unter dem Volke schlug, sprach er zu Jehova und sagte: Siehe, ich habe gesündigt, und ich habe verkehrt gehandelt; aber diese Schafe, was haben sie getan? Es sei doch deine Hand wider mich, und wider das Haus meines Vaters!

18 Und Gad kam zu David an selbigem Tage und sprach zu ihm: Gehe hinauf, errichte Jehova einen Altar auf der Tenne Arawnas, des Jebusiters.

19 Und David ging hinauf, nach dem Worte Gads, so wie Jehova geboten hatte.