2 Samuel 24

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:13

Pressing for an answer to God's message. "Advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me." These words of Gad to David might well be addressed by religious teachers, and especially ministers of the gospel, to those whom they instruct. Notice— I. GOD 'S MESSENGERS . "Him that sent me." 1 . True ministers of Christ are God's messengers. Their office is not a human invention. They are not mere lecturers, who may choose their own themes and aims; not mere... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:14

Let us fall now into the hand of Jehovah. David had sinned against God, and to God he humbly submitted himself. There would thus be nothing to come between the soul and God, and prevent the chastisement from having its due effect upon the heart. A famine would indeed equally come from God, but would necessitate effort and exertion on man's part. In the pestilence he would wait patiently, nor look to anything but prayer for averting God's judgment. In Psalms 51:1 David refers to God's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:14

( 1 Chronicles 21:13 ).—( THE KING 'S PALACE .) Submission to Divine chastisement. "Let us now fall into the hand of Jehovah." Already David had been convinced of his sin. He had also confessed it and sought forgiveness. Nor had he done so in vain. But, as formerly ( 2 Samuel 12:10-12 ), so now, the (temporal) penalties of sin must follow. Throughout he exhibited a spirit the exact reverse of that in which he had numbered. the people. Consider— I. THE CHASTISEMENT OF ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:14

God's treatment preferred to man's. David had good reasons for the choice he made. He knew well, from his own treatment of defeated enemies ( 2 Samuel 12:31 ; 1 Chronicles 20:3 ), how fearfully cruel were conquerors in war in those days, what an awful scourge to his subjects would be the ravages of a victorious invading army. He also doubtless dreaded the disgrace and permanent damage to the kingdom which would be thus wrought, and the dishonour, in the view of the heathen, which would... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:15

Even to the time appointed. This rendering, though very uncertain, is retained in the Revised Version. It would mean, of course, the end of the third day, as the pestilence was to last for that time. The objections to it are that there is no article in the Hebrew, so that literally it would be "unto a time appointed." Secondly, the pestilence did not continue unto the time appointed, but was mercifully stayed. And thirdly, these words are a literal translation, indeed, of the Vulgate, but a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:15-16

( 1 Chronicles 21:14 , 1 Chronicles 21:15 ).—( JERUSALEM .) Pestilence. Pestilence, even more than famine and war, was regarded by David as directly inflicted by the hand of God. How far, in this instance, it occurred in connection with secondary causes is unknown. But doubtless, ordinarily, it depends on such causes; the crowding together of great numbers of people, the accumulation of filth, the state of the atmosphere, the susceptibilities of the persons affected by it. "The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:16

The angel. In the next verse we are told that David saw the angel, and more fully in 1 Chronicles 21:16 that he beheld him "standing between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand." The pestilence plainly was not a natural visitation; though possibly the means used was a simoom, or poisonous wind, advancing with terrible rapidity throughout Israel. The Lord repented. In all the dealings of God's providence, his actions are made to depend upon human conduct. Looked at... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:17

I have done wickedly; Hebrew, I have done perversely, or crookedly. David acknowledges that his conduct had not been upright and straightforward, but that he had turned aside into the paths of self-will and personal aggrandizement. These sheep, what have they done? The sin had been quite as much that of the people as of the king; for the war lust had entered into the very heart of the nation. But David, with that warmth of feeling which makes his character so noble, can see only his own... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:17-19

( 1 Chronicles 21:16-19 ).—( ZION .) Self-devotion. "These sheep, what have they done?" etc. ( 2 Samuel 24:17 ). As through one man many suffer, so through one man many are delivered from suffering and greatly benefited. This is especially the case when, like David, he is their head and representative, the shepherd of the flock of God ( 2 Samuel 24:17 ; 2 Samuel 5:2 ). His numbering the people in a spirit of self-exaltation was the occasion (not the cause, 2 Samuel 24:1 ) of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:18

Go up. David probably, on receiving God's message, had gone to the tent which he had pitched for the ark in Zion ( 2 Samuel 6:17 ), in order that he might pray there; and while on his way he saw the dark plague cloud coming as the messenger of God's wrath to smite Jerusalem. In an agony of grief, he poured out his prayer that Jerusalem might be spared, and God heard him, and sent Gad a second time to bid him offer sacrifice, that, by making an atonement, he might stand between the dead and... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:13

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:14

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:14

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:14

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:15

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:15-16

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:16

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:17

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:17-19

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 24:18

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