2 Samuel 24 15

2 Samuel 24:15 kjv

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.

2 Samuel 24:15 nkjv

So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from the morning till the appointed time. From Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men of the people died.

2 Samuel 24:15 niv

So the LORD sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died.

2 Samuel 24:15 esv

So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning until the appointed time. And there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba 70,000 men.

2 Samuel 24:15 nlt

So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days. A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.

2 Samuel 24 verses

2 Samuel 24 15 Meaning

This verse describes the direct and swift execution of God's judgment upon the nation of Israel as a consequence of King David's sin in taking an unauthorized census. It highlights the devastating nature of the divine punishment, specifically a plague, which swept across the entire land from morning until a divinely appointed time, resulting in the deaths of seventy thousand people.

2 Samuel 24 15 Context

The twenty-fourth chapter of 2 Samuel details a divinely orchestrated census initiated by King David. Although the exact nature of David's sin in numbering the people is not explicitly stated, common interpretations point to a trust in military strength over God's provision, a prideful display of national power, or a disobedient act contrary to the spirit of Israel's dependence on Yahweh. The chapter's opening verse implies that the Lord's anger was "aroused against Israel," suggesting that David's sin, though personal, became a catalyst for a pre-existing divine displeasure or served as a representative act bringing corporate judgment.

After being confronted by the prophet Gad, David was given a choice of three forms of punishment: seven years of famine, three months of flight before enemies, or three days of pestilence. David chose the pestilence, stating, "Let us now fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man" (2 Sam 24:14). Verse 15 then describes the immediate and severe execution of this chosen judgment, affecting the entire land and its population, before concluding with the Lord relenting and the establishment of an altar that would later become the site of the first temple.

2 Samuel 24 15 Word analysis

• So the Lord sent: This emphasizes divine agency. The judgment was not an accident or a natural disaster, but a direct act of YHWH (Yahweh), the sovereign God of Israel. It highlights God's justice and His direct involvement in human affairs, even in severe consequences for sin.
• a plague: (Hebrew: דֶּבֶר, deber) This term denotes a pestilence or epidemic, a widespread and rapid-killing disease. In the Old Testament, plagues are frequently depicted as direct instruments of divine judgment (e.g., in Egypt, or among the Israelites in the wilderness). It is a fearsome and indiscriminate form of punishment, demonstrating God's overwhelming power and judgment against human pride and disobedience.
• upon Israel: This points to the corporate nature of the punishment. While David sinned personally, his sin, particularly as king and representative head, brought consequences upon the entire nation. This underscores the solidarity between a leader and his people in ancient Israelite thought, and that sin has ripple effects beyond the individual.
• from the morning till the appointed time: The phrase "appointed time" (Hebrew: מוֹעֵד, mo'ed) signifies a fixed or pre-determined period. In this context, it highlights God's absolute control over the judgment's duration; it began immediately in the morning and ceased precisely when God determined, emphasizing divine control even in calamity. The parallel passage in 1 Chron 21:15 specifies "mid-day" (though the text of 2 Sam doesn't necessarily mean it lasted until the very last moment of the day). This illustrates God's mercy in limiting the duration of His judgment.
• and seventy thousand men: This specific, large number communicates the immense scale of the catastrophe. "Seventy thousand" signifies a devastating loss of life, emphasizing the severity of David's offense and God's holiness. It represents a significant portion of the fighting men or the general populace, underscoring the widespread impact.
• of the people died: This underscores the dire and fatal outcome of the plague. The people are the direct recipients of the judgment, experiencing physical death as the consequence.
• from Dan to Beersheba: This is a common Hebrew idiomatic expression (a merism) signifying the full geographical extent of the land of Israel, from its northernmost point (Dan) to its southernmost point (Beersheba). Its inclusion here emphasizes that the divine judgment was widespread and affected the entire nation, leaving no region untouched. It illustrates the comprehensive nature of the judgment.

2 Samuel 24 15 Bonus section

The seemingly contradictory accounts between 2 Samuel 24:1, where "the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He incited David," and 1 Chronicles 21:1, where "Satan stood up against Israel and incited David," offer a complex theological insight. This juxtaposition does not present a contradiction but highlights different aspects of divine action and human/satanic agency. In a broader theological framework, God maintains ultimate sovereignty over all events, even permitting Satan to act within His plan for specific purposes, which may include testing or judgment. Thus, God "incited" in the sense that He permitted or utilized a circumstance (David's pride, Satan's instigation) to bring about His divine will of judgment upon Israel, who had already aroused His anger. This event ultimately leads to the purchase of the threshing floor of Araunah (Ornan in Chronicles), which later became the site for Solomon's Temple, thereby linking a moment of national crisis and judgment to a foundational act for Israel's worship and a demonstration of God's enduring grace.

2 Samuel 24 15 Commentary

This verse starkly portrays God's swift and extensive judgment in response to King David's census. It underlines several theological truths: the gravity of sin, especially on the part of a leader; the principle of corporate consequence, where a leader's transgression can bring calamity upon his people; and God's absolute sovereignty, demonstrated in His power to initiate, direct, and halt even the most devastating judgments like a plague. The "seventy thousand" and "from Dan to Beersheba" illustrate the thoroughness and wide reach of divine justice, yet the "appointed time" also reveals God's mercy, setting a limit to His righteous wrath. This immediate, decisive action demonstrates God's commitment to holiness and the consequences of relying on human strength rather than divine provision and command.