But when the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand now!" At that time the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. But when the angel stretched out his hand to destroy JerusalemThis phrase indicates a moment of impending judgment upon Jerusalem. The angel, acting as an agent of divine retribution, is poised to execute God's judgment. This event occurs after David's census, which was seen as an act of pride and lack of trust in God. The angel's action is reminiscent of the angel of death in Exodus 12:23, highlighting the seriousness of divine judgment. Jerusalem, as the city of David and the future site of the temple, holds significant theological importance, making the potential destruction particularly grave. the LORD relented from the calamity
Here, the LORD's relenting demonstrates His mercy and compassion. This is consistent with God's character as described in Exodus 34:6-7, where He is "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." The Hebrew word for "relented" can also mean to have compassion or to be moved to pity, indicating a change in response due to David's repentance and intercession. This moment underscores the biblical theme that God is willing to forgive and withhold judgment when there is genuine repentance. and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!”
God's command to the angel to cease the destruction highlights His sovereign control over all events. The phrase "Enough! Withdraw your hand now!" signifies a decisive halt to the judgment, emphasizing God's authority over life and death. This intervention reflects God's responsiveness to human repentance and intercession, as seen in other biblical narratives such as Abraham's intercession for Sodom in Genesis 18. It also illustrates the power of prayer and repentance in altering the course of divine judgment. At that time the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
The location of the angel at the threshing floor of Araunah is significant both geographically and theologically. Threshing floors were often situated on elevated ground, making them suitable for divine encounters. This particular site would later become the location for Solomon's temple (2 Chronicles 3:1), marking it as a place of worship and sacrifice. Araunah, a Jebusite, represents the original inhabitants of Jerusalem, indicating the city's transition from a Jebusite stronghold to the center of Israelite worship. This event foreshadows the future significance of the temple as a place where God's mercy and presence would dwell among His people. Persons / Places / Events 1. The Angel of the LORDA divine messenger sent by God to execute judgment on Israel due to David's sin of conducting a census. 2. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel who shows mercy by halting the destruction. 3. DavidThe King of Israel who ordered the census, leading to God's judgment. 4. JerusalemThe capital city of Israel, which was spared from destruction. 5. Araunah the JebusiteThe owner of the threshing floor where the angel halted, a significant location for future events. Teaching Points God's Mercy in JudgmentEven in His righteous judgment, God shows mercy. This teaches us about the balance of justice and mercy in God's character. The Power of RepentanceDavid's repentance and intercession play a crucial role in God's decision to relent, emphasizing the importance of a contrite heart. Divine SovereigntyGod's control over events, including the actions of the angel, reminds us of His ultimate authority over all creation. The Significance of ObedienceThe event underscores the consequences of disobedience and the importance of aligning our actions with God's will. The Role of IntercessionDavid's plea for his people highlights the power and responsibility of intercessory prayer. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the mercy shown by God in 2 Samuel 24:16 reflect His character as described in other parts of the Bible? 2. What can we learn from David's response to God's judgment, and how can we apply this to our own lives when we face the consequences of our actions? 3. In what ways does the location of the threshing floor of Araunah become significant in the biblical account, and what does this teach us about God's plans? 4. How does the concept of divine intervention in this passage connect with other instances in the Bible where God intervenes in human affairs? 5. What role does intercessory prayer play in this passage, and how can we incorporate this practice into our spiritual lives today? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 22The concept of divine intervention and mercy is echoed in the account of Abraham and Isaac, where God provides a substitute sacrifice. Exodus 12The Passover event, where the angel of death passes over the homes marked by the blood of the lamb, parallels the sparing of Jerusalem. 1 Chronicles 21This parallel account provides additional details about the event and David's subsequent actions. Psalm 103:8-10Highlights God's merciful nature, which is evident in His relenting from complete destruction. Matthew 24:22Jesus speaks of the days being shortened for the sake of the elect, reflecting God's mercy in judgment. People Araunah, Canaanites, Dan, David, Gad, Gadites, Hittites, Hivite, Hivites, Joab, ZidonPlaces Aroer, Beersheba, Dan, Gilead, Jazer, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Kadesh, Negeb, Sidon, TyreTopics Afflicting, Angel, Araunah, Arau'nah, Calamity, Cease, Destroy, Destroyed, Destroying, Destruction, Direction, Disaster, Evil, Floor, Forth, Grain-floor, Grieved, Jebusite, Jeb'usite, Jerusalem, Messenger, Putteth, Regret, Relax, Relented, Repented, Repenteth, Sending, Stay, Stretched, Threshing, Threshing-floor, Threshingplace, Threshing-place, Withdraw, WorkingDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Samuel 24:16 1210 God, human descriptions
5156 hand
5970 unhappiness
6227 regret 2 Samuel 24:1-16 7236 Israel, united kingdom 2 Samuel 24:1-17 5087 David, reign of 2 Samuel 24:10-25 7435 sacrifice, in OT 2 Samuel 24:11-25 4843 plague 2 Samuel 24:15-16 1120 God, repentance of
4140 angel of the Lord 2 Samuel 24:15-17 1135 God, suffering of
5295 destruction 2 Samuel 24:16-17 4113 angels, agents of judgment 2 Samuel 24:16-25 4524 threshing-floor Library The Exile --Continued.
We have one psalm which the title connects with the beginning of David's stay at Adullam,--the thirty-fourth. The supposition that it dates from that period throws great force into many parts of it, and gives a unity to what is else apparently fragmentary and disconnected. Unlike those already considered, which were pure soliloquies, this is full of exhortation and counsel, as would naturally be the case if it were written when friends and followers began to gather to his standard. It reads like …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of DavidThe Universal Chorus
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that stteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. M en have generally agreed to dignify their presumptuous and arrogant ^* disquisitions on the works and ways of God, with the name of wisdom ; though the principles upon which they proceed, and the conclusions which they draw from …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 Letter xix (A. D. 1127) to Suger, Abbot of S. Denis
To Suger, Abbot of S. Denis He praises Suger, who had unexpectedly renounced the pride and luxury of the world to give himself to the modest habits of the religious life. He blames severely the clerk who devotes himself rather to the service of princes than that of God. 1. A piece of good news has reached our district; it cannot fail to do great good to whomsoever it shall have come. For who that fear God, hearing what great things He has done for your soul, do not rejoice and wonder at the great …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux Meditations for one that is Like to Die.
If thy sickness be like to increase unto death, then meditate on three things:--First, How graciously God dealeth with thee. Secondly, From what evils death will free thee. Thirdly, What good death will bring unto thee. The first sort of Meditations are, to consider God's favourable dealing with thee. 1. Meditate that God uses this chastisement of thy body but as a medicine to cure thy soul, by drawing thee, who art sick in sin, to come by repentance unto Christ, thy physician, to have thy soul healed …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Consolations against Impatience in Sickness.
If in thy sickness by extremity of pain thou be driven to impatience, meditate-- 1. That thy sins have deserved the pains of hell; therefore thou mayest with greater patience endure these fatherly corrections. 2. That these are the scourges of thy heavenly Father, and the rod is in his hand. If thou didst suffer with reverence, being a child, the corrections of thy earthly parents, how much rather shouldst thou now subject thyself, being the child of God, to the chastisement of thy heavenly Father, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The Order of Thought which Surrounded the Development of Jesus.
As the cooled earth no longer permits us to understand the phenomena of primitive creation, because the fire which penetrated it is extinct, so deliberate explanations have always appeared somewhat insufficient when applying our timid methods of induction to the revolutions of the creative epochs which have decided the fate of humanity. Jesus lived at one of those times when the game of public life is freely played, and when the stake of human activity is increased a hundredfold. Every great part, …
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus Of Love to God
I proceed to the second general branch of the text. The persons interested in this privilege. They are lovers of God. "All things work together for good, to them that love God." Despisers and haters of God have no lot or part in this privilege. It is children's bread, it belongs only to them that love God. Because love is the very heart and spirit of religion, I shall the more fully treat upon this; and for the further discussion of it, let us notice these five things concerning love to God. 1. The …
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial The Hardening in the Sacred Scripture.
"He hath hardened their heart."-- John xii. 40. The Scripture teaches positively that the hardening and "darkening of their foolish heart" is a divine, intentional act. This is plainly evident from God's charge to Moses concerning the king of Egypt: "Thou shalt speak all that I command thee; and I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not harken unto you, and I will lay My hand upon Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit The Prophet Amos.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. It will not be necessary to extend our preliminary remarks on the prophet Amos, since on the main point--viz., the circumstances under which he appeared as a prophet--the introduction to the prophecies of Hosea may be regarded as having been written for those of Amos also. For, according to the inscription, they belong to the same period at which Hosea's prophetic ministry began, viz., the latter part of the reign of Jeroboam II., and after Uzziah had ascended the …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Samuel 24:16 NIV2 Samuel 24:16 NLT2 Samuel 24:16 ESV2 Samuel 24:16 NASB2 Samuel 24:16 KJV
2 Samuel 24:16 Commentaries
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