2 Samuel 24:15-17

2 Samuel 24:15-17

[15] So the LORD  sent  a pestilence  upon Israel  from the morning  even to the time  appointed:  and there died  of the people  from Dan  even to Beersheba  seventy  thousand  men.  [16] And when the angel  stretched out  his hand  upon Jerusalem  to destroy  it, the LORD  repented  him of the evil,  and said  to the angel  that destroyed  the people,  It is enough:  stay  now thine hand.  And the angel  of the LORD  was by the threshingplace  of Araunah  the Jebusite.  [17] 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. 

What does 2 Samuel 24:15-17 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

An angelic messenger from God again brought death to many people throughout all Israel (cf. Exodus 12:23). The Angel of the Lord may have been the preincarnate Christ, but he could have simply been an angelic messenger whom God sent. [1] Evidently God gave David the ability to see the angel who was killing the people as the angel entered Jerusalem prepared to kill more innocent victims of David"s sin there ( 2 Samuel 24:17; cf. 2 Kings 6:17). David asked God to have mercy on the people since he was the sinner responsible for the punishment. He had failed to appreciate the extent of the effects of his act when he ordered the census. Note David"s shepherd heart in his reference to his people as "sheep" ( 2 Samuel 24:17).
"He is even willing to suffer (die?) for the sake of the sheep ( 2 Samuel 24:17)!" [2]
"Wanting more land and more people to rule, David finds himself with70 ,000 fewer subjects." [3]
The70 ,000 who died may have been70 military units of soldiers. [4]
"Sin is really a selfish act. It"s all about bringing ourselves pleasure caring little about the toll it will take on someone else." [5]