2 Samuel 24:12

12 vade et loquere ad David haec dicit Dominus trium tibi datur optio elige unum quod volueris ex his ut faciam tibi

2 Samuel 24:12 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 24:12

Go, and say unto David
Not my servant David, as Nathan was bid to say to him when it was in his heart to build an house for him, ( 2 Samuel 7:5 ) ; but now he had sinned and displeased the Lord, and therefore it is only plain David:

thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three [things];
or lay them before thee to consider of which thou wouldest have done; the Targum is,

``one of three things I cast upon thee,''

as a burden to bear; one of the three I will certainly inflict upon thee by way of chastisement:

choose thee one of them, that I may [do it] unto thee;
here is mercy mixed with judgment; the Lord is angry, yet shows great condescension and goodness; a sovereign Being, who could have imposed what punishment he pleased, and even all the three after mentioned, yet resolves but on one, and leaves that to the option of David.

2 Samuel 24:12 In-Context

10 percussit autem cor David eum postquam numeratus est populus et dixit David ad Dominum peccavi valde in hoc facto sed precor Domine ut transferas iniquitatem servi tui quia stulte egi nimis

11 surrexit itaque David mane et sermo Domini factus est ad Gad propheten et videntem David dicens

12 vade et loquere ad David haec dicit Dominus trium tibi datur optio elige unum quod volueris ex his ut faciam tibi

13 cumque venisset Gad ad David nuntiavit ei dicens aut septem annis veniet tibi fames in terra tua aut tribus mensibus fugies adversarios tuos et illi persequentur aut certe tribus diebus erit pestilentia in terra tua nunc ergo delibera et vide quem respondeam ei qui me misit sermonem

14 dixit autem David ad Gad artor nimis sed melius est ut incidam in manu Domini multae enim misericordiae eius sunt quam in manu hominis