Keraia
2 Samuel 24

2 Samuel 24:17

A Plague on Israel · 2 Samuel 24:15–17
Read 2 Samuel 24

Translations

Modern
When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.”
Traditional
And David spake unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.
Literal
And David spoke to YHWH when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and he said, “Behold, I, the shepherd, have sinned, and I have acted wickedly. And these sheep, what have they done? Please be Your hand against me and against the house of my father.”
Latin
Dixitque David ad Dominum cum vidisset angelum cædentem populum: Ego sum qui peccavi, ego inique egi: isti qui oves sunt, quid fecerunt? vertatur, obsecro, manus tua contra me, et contra domum patris mei.

Original

Hebrew
English
When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.”

Notes

2 Samuel 24:17

  • I, the shepherd, have sinned: Earlier, David confessed his sin only about his situation ("take away the iniquity of Your servant," 2 Samuel 24:10). Now, he prayed for those he thought were innocent (but see 2 Samuel 24:1) and offered to die for them.

  • these sheep: David was the shepherd (a leader who guided, protected, and cared for the people) of Israel (see study note on 2 Samuel 7:8).

2 Samuel 21:1–24:25

The final chapters of 2 Samuel form a coda (a concluding section). This section brings together and summarizes the main themes from earlier chapters.

These chapters are thematic, not chronological (arranged by topic, not by time). Because of this, not all the events happened at the end of David’s reign (for example, 2 Samuel 22:1).

The material is arranged using a common Hebrew literary pattern called a chiasm (a mirror-like structure). In a chiasm, the first and last sections match, and the middle section is the focus.

The structure of this chiasm is as follows:

A chiasm draws attention to the center section. Here, the center is David’s hymns. These hymns do not focus on David himself. Instead, they focus on David’s God.

Theme notes and profiles

David God or Satan?

Events

Parallels

1 Chronicles 21:14–17

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ

Glossary

Araunah Census David Gad (Person) Genesis, Book of Moriah Samuel, Books of First and Second Zion

Topics

Angel (A Spirit): Appearances of To David, at the Threshing Floor of Araunah Angel (A Spirit): Execute Judgments Upon the Wicked Araunah: A Jebusite from Whom David Bought a Site for an Altar Intercession: Additional Instances of David, for Israel Intercession: Exemplified Jerusalem: David Purchases and Erects an Altar Upon Araunah's Threshing Floor Judgments: Saints: Acknowledge the Justice of Nation: Involved in Sins of Rulers Ornan: Called Araunah Plague: On the Israelites: On Account of David's Sin Presumption: David, in Numbering Israel Repentance: Exemplified Self-Condemnation: General Scriptures Concerning Sheep: Innocent Sin: Confession of The Anger of God: To be Born with Submission Threshing: Floor of Araunah Purchased by David for a Place of Sacrifice