2 Samuel 24:1-25
It does not say exactly why but God was angry with Israel. Most likely because of their disobedience to him as in so many passages before when they worshiped other gods and did other evil things against him, I imagine. But God told David to "go take a census of Israel and Judah."
David then told Joab and the army commanders with him to "go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are." (2 Sam.24:2)
After 9 months and 20 days they had searched the entire land and went back to Israel and they reported the number of fighting men that were able bodied and could handle a sword. However, David was 'conscience stricken' and told the Lord, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now Lord I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a foolish thing." The next morning, the Lord sent the prophet Gad to David's seer, "Go and tell David, 'This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options.Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.'"
Davids three choices were: 3 years of famine in the land, 3 months of fleeing from his enemies while they pursued him, or 3 days of plague in the land.
David decided "to let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands."
Seventy thousand people died of the plague that the Lord had sent during that time. When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, he told him to stop and the "angel of the Lord, was then at the thrashing floor Araunah the Jebustie.
When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he told the Lord that he was the who had sinned. He asked him, "what have they done? let your hand fall on me and my family."
In verses 18:25 it tells us that David built an alter to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings and the Lord did answer his prayer to stop the plagues on Israel.
And so what does this story about David and the angel of the Lord mean? Is it important to us? Well, it has to mean something for us or it wouldn't be there. But to get into it, I would have to study it more intensely then what it is here, by others who have. And I am sorry to say I just cannot at this time. The points that I have been trying to make is that the angel of the Lord does exist in bible times. In different forms and for different reasons. However, if you would like some more information about this particular passage as well as others, please visit the following: 2 Samuel 24:1 Commentaries: Now again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, "Go, number Israel and Judah.", or Who Is the Angel of the LORD & What Does the Bible Say about Him? - Bible Study and Why was God so angry at David for taking the census? | GotQuestions.org
The next angel of the Lord appears in Zechariah. Who was he? Come back next time to (hopefully find out about his story} . And thanks so much for your visit and patience with me Friends! God bless!
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