2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21-22; Psalm 30

Ahhhh....I delight in the different scholars opinions.....The NIV and the NSRV are different in their opinions of the motivation behind the census taking that David did.  The NIV argues that David was overcome by pride.   He was being self-sufficient and felt power from his military, not from God that gave true power.   He wanted a census just to see how powerful he could be.   The land was in a time of peace.  In Numbers when the census was taken, this was equivilent to the draft to be prepared to fight.  Joab even knew that such a thing was prideful.  David realizes he has sinned and begs for forgiveness.

NSRV argues that Joab was the one at fault.  He deliberately disobeys David and doesn't count the Levites and the Benjamites.  Verse 7 says that God was displeased with this thing....which NSRV attributes to Joab's disobedience.  David, realizing it is his ultimate responsibility offers to die in place.

What do you do when scholars disagree?  The way I see it, you ask if it is a saving issue.  If it is not, you realize that it is an interpretation of man, and if it was important for God to have us know, he would have made it clear in scripture.

Both interpretations agree that David selected the plague because he wanted punishment from God's hand and not man's.   And the threshing floor purchase is significant because it will be the future site of the temple, that David's son Solomon will actually build.

We are ending David's story: