The Second Book of Samuel concludes with a significant narrative detailing King David's unauthorized census of Israel, a subsequent divine plague, and David's profound act of atonement through the building of an altar at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
The final chapter of 2 Samuel (Chapter 24) brings David's reign to a pivotal close, illustrating themes of human fallibility, divine judgment, and God's enduring mercy and covenant faithfulness.
The Concluding Narrative of 2 Samuel
The specific events that mark the end of the book are:
- David's Census: Driven by an impulse that displeases the Lord—or, as paralleled in 1 Chronicles 21:1, incited by Satan—King David commands Joab, his commander, to conduct a census of all the fighting men in Israel and Judah. This act is often interpreted as a display of pride, a reliance on human strength rather than divine protection, or a lack of trust in God's provision.
- Divine Punishment Offered: God is angered by David's action. Through the prophet Gad, God offers David a choice of three punishments for his sin:
- Seven years of famine in the land.
- Three months of fleeing from his enemies.
- Three days of devastating plague.
David chooses the plague, stating that he would rather fall into the hand of the Lord because His mercy is great, whereas human mercy might be cruel.
- The Plague and Angel's Halt: A terrible plague sweeps across Israel, resulting in the death of seventy thousand men. When the angel of the Lord extends his hand to destroy Jerusalem, God relents and commands the angel to stop. David, seeing the angel and the destruction, intercedes for his people, offering himself and his family as sacrifices instead.
- Building the Altar at Araunah's Threshing Floor: The Lord then instructs David, through the prophet Gad, to build an altar at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David goes to Araunah, who offers to give David the threshing floor, oxen, and wood for free. However, David refuses, stating, "I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing" (2 Samuel 24:24). He insists on paying the full price for the land and the animals.
- Atonement and Cessation of Plague: David builds the altar on the purchased threshing floor, offers burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. The Lord answers his prayer, and the plague is immediately stopped. This specific location later becomes the site where Solomon, David's son, builds the Temple of the Lord (1 Chronicles 22:1, 2 Chronicles 3:1).
Broader Theological Context and David's Enduring Legacy
While the book concludes with this particular incident of sin, judgment, and atonement, the overarching narrative of 2 Samuel deeply establishes David's enduring legacy and God's unconditional covenant with his house. Earlier in David's reign, as described in 2 Samuel Chapter 7, God expressed immense pleasure and favor upon David. This came after David had made a permanent home for the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem, demonstrating his devotion and desire to honor God.
Through the prophet Nathan, God revealed a profound message to David, known as the Davidic Covenant. In this pivotal prophecy, God vowed to:
- Grant Israel Rest: Provide Israel with rest from foreign opposition, ensuring a period of stability and security in their land.
- Establish an Eternal Kingdom: Most significantly, God promised that David's "house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever" (2 Samuel 7:16).
This divine promise of an eternal dynasty fundamentally shapes the entire narrative of 2 Samuel. Despite David's personal failings, such as the census, and the consequences that followed, God's covenant with him remains steadfast. The book's conclusion, with an act of worship and the cessation of divine wrath, reinforces the idea that even in the face of human sin, God's ultimate plan for David's line and for Israel will prevail, setting the stage for the future of the kingdom and the building of the Temple as a permanent dwelling place for God's presence.
