DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2014 July 29
Image 1: King David in Prayer (1635-1640)
Pieter de Grebber (c. 1600 - 1652/3)
Dutch Golden Age Baroque Style
Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht, Netherlands
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
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Image 2: Grimani Breviary: The Month of July (1510s)
Gerard Horenbout (c. 1465 - 1541)
Northern Renaissance / Flemish Primitives Style
Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice, Italy
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
Explanation: In 2 Samuel 24 the LORD sent a judgment against Israel. Two aspects of that incident are illustrated above: the choice of judgments given to David, and the harvest which was going on near Jerusalem when David purchased the threshingfloor of Araunah. [Parallel Passage: 1 Chronicles 21]. [Thematically and Chronologically Related Passages: Psalm 30; Psalm 33; Psalm 131; Psalm 32; 1 Kings 14:21].
The chapter begins with a statement that the LORD's anger was "again" stirred against Israel. The previous incident implied by the word "again" may refer to the three year famine which the LORD sent to punish Saul's sin against the Gibeonites, mentioned three chapters prior to this incident (2 Samuel 21). Also, the writer says that the LORD moved David against the nation to number Judah and Israel. The parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 21:1 says that Satan (literally, "(an) adversary") moved David to do the numbering. Some speculate that an undisclosed human adversary "moved" David to do the numbering, perhaps externally, by posing a military threat. But nothing in 2 Samuel 24 or in 1 Chronicles 21 gives any indication of a human agent being involved. And clearly, in 2 Samuel 24 the LORD moves David by some spiritual means -- quite possibly, and I believe quite probably, by Satan, whose temptations, directly or by his agents, were unleashed in other incidents: (Job 1-2; 1 Kings 22:22; Luke 22:3; Acts 5:3). As James 1:13-14 makes clear, God does not tempt anyone; temptation comes from enticement in conjunction with lust. So this implies that some sinful desire was in David's heart -- perhaps pride in his military strength, or a lack of trust in the Lord's strength; but we are not told. We are told, however, that the LORD had something against Israel. Again we are not told what it was. It may have been a divisive spirit which had broken out in the rebellions of Absalom and of Sheba and had not been cleansed. Or Israel may have drifted again toward idolatry. We only know that the offense required the LORD's judgment. We are also not told why the numbering was an offense. Commentators have numerous ideas. However, in Scripture, the only place where numbering and sin are associated is in the sin of not redeeming those who were numbered -- Exodus 13:13-15; Exodus 34:20; Numbers 18:16; Numbers 3:44-45 (1).
This command to number the people was odious to Joab and to the other captains of the host; but David's word prevailed; and the number of those of military age was 1,300,000 (2-9). After the numbering, David regretted what he had done and admitted to great sin. He asked the LORD to take his iniquity away. And the LORD offered him a choice of three punishments: famine, flight, or pestilence. David asked that the LORD choose between the first and third choices, because the LORD was merciful, but the men who would put him to flight were not merciful (10-14). So the LORD sent pestilence which killed seventy thousand. And when the Angel of the LORD was about to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD told him to stop. And he stopped by the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite, which was outside the city. David saw the angel and asked that the LORD's hand be against him and his father's house (15-17). And Gad the prophet told him to raise up an altar to the LORD on Araunah's threshingfloor. He purchased the threshingfloor, though Araunah wanted to give it to him. And he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the plague was lifted (18-25).
2 Samuel 24
1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go 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.
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?
4 Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.
5 And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:
6 Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,
7 And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba.
8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
10 And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I 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.
11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,
12 Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven 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.
14 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
15 So the 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.
16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented 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 Araunah the Jebusite.
17 And David spake 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.
18 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.
19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded.
20 And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.
21 And Araunah said, Wherefore 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.
22 And Araunah said unto David, Let 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.
23 All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.
24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; 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.
25 And David built 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.
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