2 Samuel 24 11

2 Samuel 24:11 kjv

For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

2 Samuel 24:11 nkjv

Now when David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

2 Samuel 24:11 niv

Before David got up the next morning, the word of the LORD had come to Gad the prophet, David's seer:

2 Samuel 24:11 esv

And when David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

2 Samuel 24:11 nlt

The next morning the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, who was David's seer. This was the message:

2 Samuel 24 verses

2 Samuel 24 11 Meaning

2 Samuel 24:11 marks a critical moment after King David's sin of numbering the people. It reveals that as David awoke in the morning, having already experienced conviction for his action, the divine message from God actively and directly came to Gad, identified both as a "prophet" and David's personal "seer." This immediate communication through Gad sets the stage for God's revealed judgment and the choice of disciplinary action that David would face.

2 Samuel 24 11 Context

This verse appears in 2 Samuel chapter 24, which serves as an epilogue or appendix to the main narrative of David's reign. It recounts David's unauthorized census of Israel and Judah, an act identified as sinful, bringing divine judgment upon the nation. While 2 Samuel attributes the sin to the LORD's anger inciting David (v.1), the parallel account in 1 Chronicles 21:1 explicitly states "Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to number Israel." Both accounts agree on David's sin and God's subsequent action. Immediately after the census, David's conscience struck him (v. 10). Verse 11 details the specific manner in which God's message of judgment was delivered to David – through the prophet Gad, confirming Gad's consistent role as David's spiritual advisor and a direct conduit for divine communication.

2 Samuel 24 11 Word analysis

• And when David was up in the morning:
  • Signifies a new day, but also a moment of sober awakening, fitting for the preceding conviction. The previous evening (or night) David had conducted the census and immediately afterward his "heart struck him" (v. 10), indicating profound guilt and repentance.
  • Suggests the divine message came promptly following David's personal realization of his sin.
• the word of the LORD came:
  • Hebrew: dāḇār YHWH (דְּבַר יְהוָה). This is a common and highly authoritative phrase across the Hebrew Bible, indicating a direct, undeniable divine utterance, not a human interpretation or mere thought.
  • Emphasizes God's active initiative in addressing David's sin; the Lord did not wait for David to seek Him, but sent a clear message.
• unto the prophet Gad:
  • Prophet: Hebrew nāḇîʾ (נָבִיא). One who speaks for God, conveying divine revelation. This role involves both forthtelling (proclaiming God's truth) and sometimes foretelling (revealing future events).
  • Gad is known as David's loyal prophetic companion, present from David's days as a fugitive (1 Sam 22:5) to later in David's reign (1 Chr 29:29).
• David's seer:
  • Hebrew: rōʾeh (רֹאֶה). This term denotes someone who sees visions or divine revelations, implying a direct perception of God's will.
  • The conjunction of "prophet" and "seer" in Gad's title is significant. While often used interchangeably (1 Sam 9:9 notes the shift in terminology from "seer" to "prophet"), "seer" often suggests the mode of receiving revelation (visual/revelatory), while "prophet" emphasizes the mode of delivery (verbal proclamation). Gad held both distinct qualifications, authenticating the source and authority of his message.
  • "David's seer" highlights Gad's established role as a trusted spiritual advisor to King David, making him the natural and expected messenger for such a sensitive and vital divine communication.
• saying:
  • Introduces the direct divine message and specific instructions that Gad is about to deliver to David regarding the consequences of his census.

2 Samuel 24 11 Bonus section

The concept of a "prophet" (nāḇîʾ) emphasizes speaking God's truth to the people, acting as God's mouth. The "seer" (rōʾeh) suggests seeing divine realities and visions. The use of both terms for Gad signifies the comprehensive nature of his prophetic function – he not only perceived God's will clearly but was also commissioned to declare it boldly. This relationship between King and Prophet showcases God's established channel for speaking to His chosen leaders, ensuring that no authority, not even the king, operates outside divine accountability. The narrative in Chronicles attributes the inciting of the census to Satan, highlighting the spiritual warfare dimension behind human actions and God's permissive will even in negative events that ultimately serve His purpose for justice and discipline.

2 Samuel 24 11 Commentary

2 Samuel 24:11 is pivotal, detailing the divine response to David's census. It shows that even for a king, sin incurs a swift and authoritative divine reaction. God initiates the communication, sending Gad with a clear "word of the LORD." This immediate divine engagement underscores God's sovereignty over earthly rulers and His concern for the integrity of His covenant people. Gad, identified both as "prophet" and "seer," carries supreme divine authority, his dual titles reinforcing the authenticity and directness of God's message. The setting of "morning" suggests that divine judgment often follows promptly upon conviction.