2 Samuel

2 Samuel 24:10–17

¹⁰After David had numbered the troops, his conscience was stricken and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

¹¹When David got up in the morning, the word of the LORD had come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer: ¹²“Go and tell David that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am offering you three options. Choose one of them, and I will carry it out against you.’”

¹³So Gad went and said to David, “Do you choose to endure three^d years of famine in your land, three months of fleeing the pursuit of your enemies, or three days of plague upon your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should reply to Him who sent me.”

¹⁴David answered Gad, “I am deeply distressed. Please, let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”

¹⁵So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from that morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died.^e

¹⁶But 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^f the Jebusite.

¹⁷When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely I, the shepherd,^g have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.”

Footnotes

d 24:13 LXX (see also 1 Chronicles 21:12|1CH 21:12); Hebrew seven
e 24:15 Literally and of the people from Dan to Beersheba, seventy thousand men died
f 24:16 Araunah is a variant of Ornan; see 1 Chronicles 21:15|1CH 21:15and 2 Chronicles 3:1.
g 24:17 DSS and LXX; MT does not include the shepherd.

Read all of 2 Samuel 24

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

2 Samuel 24:10

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
After	אַחֲרֵי־	’a·ḥă·rê-	Preposition	H310 behind
had numbered	סָפַ֣ר	sā·p̄ar	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5608 count
the troops	הָעָ֑םס	hå̄·ʿå̄·ms	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
conscience	לֵב־	lêḇ-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
was stricken	וַיַּ֤ךְ	way·yaḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5221 smite
and he	דָּוִ֜ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
said	וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the LORD	יְהוָ֗ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
I have sinned	חָטָ֤אתִי	ḥā·ṭā·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H2398 miss
greatly	מְאֹד֙	mə·’ōḏ	Adverb	H3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
in what	אֲשֶׁ֣ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
I have done	עָשִׂ֔יתִי	‘ā·śî·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H6213 do, make
Now	וְעַתָּ֣ה	wə·‘at·tāh	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H6258 now
O LORD	יְהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
I beg You	נָא֙	nā	Interjection	H4994 I (we) pray, now
to take away	הַֽעֲבֶר־	ha·‘ă·ḇer-	Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
the iniquity	עֲוֺ֣ן	‘ă·wōn	Noun - common singular construct	H5771 iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
of Your servant	עַבְדְּךָ֔	‘aḇ·də·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
for	כִּ֥י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
I have acted very	מְאֹֽד׃	mə·’ōḏ	Adverb	H3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
foolishly	נִסְכַּ֖לְתִּי	nis·kal·tî	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular	H5528 be foolish, or a fool

2 Samuel 24:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When David	דָּוִ֖ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
got up	וַיָּ֥קָם	way·yā·qām	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
in the morning	בַּבֹּ֑קֶר פ	bab·bō·qɛr p̄	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1242 morning
the word	וּדְבַר־	ū·ḏə·ḇar-	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H1697 speech, word
of the LORD	יְהוָ֗ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
had come	הָיָה֙	hā·yāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Gad	גָּ֣ד	gāḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1410 Gad
the prophet	הַנָּבִ֔יא	han·nā·ḇî	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5030 spokesman, speaker, prophet
David’s	דָוִ֖ד	ḏā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
seer	חֹזֵ֥ה	ḥō·zêh	Noun - masculine singular construct	H2374 seer

2 Samuel 24:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Go	הָל֞וֹךְ	hā·lō·wḵ	Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute	H1980 go, come, walk
and tell	וְדִבַּרְתָּ֣	wə·ḏib·bar·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H1696 speak
David	דָּוִ֗ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
that this is what	כֹּ֚ה	kōh	Adverb	H3541 thus, here
the LORD	יְהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
says	אָמַ֣ר	’ā·mar	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
I	אָנֹכִ֖י	’ā·nō·ḵî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
am offering	נוֹטֵ֣ל	nō·w·ṭêl	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5190 lift, bear
you three	שָׁלֹ֕שׁ	šā·lōš	Number - feminine singular	H7969 a three, triad
Choose	בְּחַר־	bə·ḥar-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H977 choose
one	אַֽחַת־	’a·ḥaṯ-	Number - feminine singular	H259 one
of them	מֵהֶ֖ם	mê·hem	Preposition-m; Pronoun - third person masculine plural
and I will carry it out	וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־	wə·’e·‘ĕ·śeh-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular	H6213 do, make
against you	לָּֽךְ׃	lāḵ	Preposition; second person feminine singular

2 Samuel 24:13

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So Gad	גָ֥ד	ḡāḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1410 Gad
went	וַיָּבֹא־	way·yā·ḇō-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
and said	וַיַּגֶּד־	way·yag·geḏ-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5046 be conspicuous
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
David	דָּוִ֖ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
Do you choose to endure	הֲתָב֣וֹא	hă·ṯā·ḇō·w	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
three	שֶֽׁבַע	še·ḇa‘	Number - feminine singular	H7651 seven
years	שָׁנִ֣ים׀	šā·nîm	Noun - feminine plural	H8141 year
of famine	רָעָ֣ב׀	rā·‘āḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H7458 famine, hunger
in your land	בְּאַרְצֶ֡ךָ	bə·’ar·ṣe·ḵā	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H776 earth, land
three	שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה	šə·lō·šāh	Number - masculine singular	H7969 a three, triad
months	חֳ֠דָשִׁים	ḥo·ḏā·šîm	Noun - masculine plural	H2320 (newness), new moon, month
of fleeing	נֻסְךָ֨	nus·ḵā	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person masculine singular	H5127 flee, escape
the pursuit	רֹדְפֶ֗ךָ	rō·ḏə·p̄e·ḵā	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H7291 pursue, chase, persecute
of	לִפְנֵֽי־	lip̄·nê-	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct	H6440 face, before
your enemies	צָרֶ֜יךָ	ṣā·re·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H6862 narrow, tight
or	וְאִם־	wə·’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
three	שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת	šə·lō·šeṯ	Number - masculine singular construct	H7969 a three, triad
days	יָמִ֥ים	yā·mîm	Noun - masculine plural	H3117 day
of	הֱ֠יוֹת	hĕ·yō·wṯ	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
plague	דֶּ֙בֶר֙	de·ḇer	Noun - masculine singular	H1698 pestilence
upon your land	בְּאַרְצֶ֔ךָ	bə·’ar·ṣe·ḵā	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H776 earth, land
Now then	עַתָּה֙	‘at·tāh	Adverb	H6258 now
think it over	דַּ֣ע	da‘	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H3045 know
and decide	וּרְאֵ֔ה	ū·rə·’êh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H7200 see
how	מָה־	māh-	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
I should reply	דָּבָֽר׃ס	dā·ḇār	Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
to Him who sent me	שֹׁלְחִ֖י	šō·lə·ḥî	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H7971 send

2 Samuel 24:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
David	דָּוִ֛ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
answered	וַיֹּ֧אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Gad	גָּ֖ד	gāḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1410 Gad
I am	לִ֣י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
deeply	מְאֹ֑ד	mə·’ōḏ	Adverb	H3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
distressed	צַר־	ṣar-	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6862 narrow, tight
Please	נָּ֤א	nā	Interjection	H4994 I (we) pray, now
let us fall	נִפְּלָה־	nip·pə·lāh-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural	H5307 fall, lie
into the hand	בְיַד־	ḇə·yaḏ-	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct	H3027 hand
of the LORD	יְהוָה֙	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
for	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
His mercies	רַחֲמוֹ	ra·ḥă·mō	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H7356 womb
great	רַבִּ֣ים	rab·bîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H7227 much, many, great
but do not	אַל־	’al-	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
let me fall	אֶפֹּֽלָה׃	’ep·pō·lāh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular	H5307 fall, lie
into the hands	וּבְיַד־	ū·ḇə·yaḏ-	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct	H3027 hand
of men	אָדָ֖ם	’ā·ḏām	Noun - masculine singular	H120 man, mankind

2 Samuel 24:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So the LORD	יְהוָ֥ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
sent	וַיִּתֵּ֨ן	way·yit·tên	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
a plague	דֶּ֙בֶר֙	de·ḇer	Noun - masculine singular	H1698 pestilence
upon Israel	בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל	bə·yiś·rā·’êl	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
from that morning	מֵהַבֹּ֖קֶר	mê·hab·bō·qer	Preposition-m, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1242 morning
until	וְעַד־	wə·‘aḏ-	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
the appointed	מוֹעֵ֑ד	mō·w·‘êḏ	Noun - masculine singular	H4150 appointed time, place, meeting
time	עֵ֣ת	‘êṯ	Noun - common singular construct	H6256 time
and seventy	שִׁבְעִ֥ים	šiḇ·‘îm	Number - common plural	H7657 seventy
thousand	אֶ֖לֶף	’e·lep̄	Number - masculine singular	H505 thousand
of the people	הָעָ֗ם	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
from	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
Dan	מִדָּן֙	mid·dān	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1835 Dan
to	וְעַד־	wə·‘aḏ-	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
Beersheba	שֶׁ֔בַע	še·ḇa‘	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H884 Beersheba
died	וַיָּ֣מָת	way·yā·māṯ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H4191 die

2 Samuel 24:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But when the angel	הַמַּלְאָ֥ךְ׀	ham·mal·’āḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4397 messenger
stretched	וַיִּשְׁלַח֩	way·yiš·laḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7971 send
out his hand	יָד֨וֹ	yā·ḏōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H3027 hand
to destroy	לְשַׁחֲתָהּ֒	lə·ša·ḥă·ṯāh	Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct; third person feminine singular	H7843 go to ruin (?)
Jerusalem	יְרֽוּשָׁלִַם֮	yə·rū·šā·lim	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3389 Jerusalem
the LORD	יְהוָה֙	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
relented	וַיִּנָּ֤חֶם	way·yin·nā·ḥem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5162 be sorry, console
from	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the calamity	הָ֣רָעָ֔ה	hā·rā·‘āh	Article; Adjective - feminine singular	H7451 bad, evil
and said	וַ֠יֹּאמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to the angel	לַמַּלְאָ֞ךְ	lam·mal·’āḵ	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4397 messenger
who was destroying	הַמַּשְׁחִ֤ית	ham·maš·ḥîṯ	Article; Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular	H7843 go to ruin (?)
the people	בָּעָם֙	bā·‘ām	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
Enough	רַ֔ב	raḇ	Adverb	H7227 much, many, great
Withdraw	הֶ֣רֶף	he·rep̄	Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular	H7503 sink, relax
your hand	יָדֶ֑ךָ	yā·ḏe·ḵā	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H3027 hand
now	עַתָּ֖ה	‘at·tāh	Adverb	H6258 now
At that time the angel	וּמַלְאַ֤ךְ	ū·mal·’aḵ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H4397 messenger
of the LORD	יְהוָה֙	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
was	הָיָ֔ה	hā·yāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
by	עִם־	‘im-	Preposition	H5973 with
the threshing floor	גֹּ֖רֶן	gō·ren	Noun - feminine singular construct	H1637 threshing-floor
of Araunah	הָאוֹרְנָה	hå̄·ʾō·rə·nå̄h	Article; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H728 Araunah
the Jebusite	הַיְבֻסִֽי׃ס	hay·ḇu·sî	Article; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H2983 Jebusite, Jebusites

2 Samuel 24:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When David	דָּוִ֨ד	dā·wiḏ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
saw	בִּרְאֹת֣וֹ׀	bir·’ō·ṯōw	Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H7200 see
the angel	הַמַּלְאָ֣ךְ׀	ham·mal·’āḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4397 messenger
striking down	הַמַּכֶּ֣ה	ham·mak·keh	Article; Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular	H5221 smite
the people	בָעָ֗ם	ḇā·‘ām	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
he said	וַיֹּאמֶר֩	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the LORD	יְהוָ֜ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
Surely	הִנֵּ֨ה	hin·nêh	Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
I	אָנֹכִ֤י	’ā·nō·ḵî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
have sinned	חָטָ֙אתִי֙	ḥā·ṭā·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H2398 miss
and	וְאָנֹכִ֣י	wə·’ā·nō·ḵî	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
acted wickedly	הֶעֱוֵ֔יתִי	he·‘ĕ·wê·ṯî	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular	H5753 bend, twist
But these	וְאֵ֥לֶּה	wə·’êl·leh	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - common plural	H428 these
sheep	הַצֹּ֖אן	haṣ·ṣōn	Article; Noun - common singular	H6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
what	מֶ֣ה	meh	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
have they done	עָשׂ֑וּ	‘ā·śū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H6213 do, make
Please	נָ֥א	nā	Interjection	H4994 I (we) pray, now
let Your hand	יָדְךָ֛	yā·ḏə·ḵā	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H3027 hand
fall upon	תְּהִ֨י	tə·hî	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
me	בִּ֖י	bî	Preposition; first person common singular
and my father’s	אָבִֽי׃פ	’ā·ḇî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H1 father
house	וּבְבֵ֥ית	ū·ḇə·ḇêṯ	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house