2 Samuel 24:16-17

16 And when ¹the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem ²to destroy it, ³the Lord relented from the calamity and said to the angel ⁴who was working destruction among the people, “It is enough; now stay your hand. ” And ⁵the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of ⁶Araunah the Jebusite.

17 Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father’s house. ”

2 Samuel 24:16-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 24

In this chapter an account is given of David's numbering of the people, 2Sa 24:1-9; of the sense he had of his sin, and of his acknowledgment of it; and of the Lord's displeasure at it, who sent the prophet Gad to him, to propose three things to him, one of which he was to choose as a punishment for it, 2Sa 24:10-13; when he chose the pestilence, which carried off a great number of the people, 2Sa 24:14-17; and David was directed to build an altar to the Lord in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite, with whom he agreed for it, and built one on it, and offered upon it, and so the plague was stayed, 2Sa 24:18-25.

Cross References

• 1. 24:16 2 Kgs. 19:35; 2 Chr. 32:21; Isa. 37:36; Acts 12:23
• 2. 24:16 Ex. 12:13, 23
• 3. 24:16 Gen. 6:6; 1 Sam. 15:11; Joel 2:13, 14; Jonah 3:10
• 4. 24:16 Ex. 12:13, 23
• 5. 24:16 2 Kgs. 19:35; 2 Chr. 32:21; Isa. 37:36; Acts 12:23
• 6. 24:16 [2 Chr. 3:1]