And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then the LORD answered the prayers on behalf of the land, and the plague upon Israel was halted. And David built an altar to the LORD thereThe act of building an altar signifies a place of worship and sacrifice, a tangible expression of devotion and repentance. In Hebrew, the word for altar is "mizbeach," which comes from a root meaning "to slaughter" or "sacrifice." This highlights the altar's purpose as a place where offerings are made to God. David's construction of the altar is a response to God's command and a demonstration of his obedience and humility. Historically, altars were central to Israelite worship, serving as a focal point for divine-human interaction. David's action here is significant as it marks a turning point from judgment to mercy. and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings
Burnt offerings, or "olah" in Hebrew, were sacrifices that were completely consumed by fire, symbolizing total surrender to God. Peace offerings, or "shelamim," were sacrifices that expressed gratitude and fellowship with God. These offerings reflect a comprehensive act of worship, acknowledging God's sovereignty and seeking reconciliation. The dual nature of these offerings—one for atonement and the other for fellowship—illustrates the holistic approach to worship and repentance. In the broader scriptural context, these offerings foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who fulfills both the need for atonement and the restoration of peace with God. Then the LORD answered the prayers on behalf of the land
The phrase "the LORD answered" indicates divine responsiveness to human petition. In Hebrew, "answered" is "anah," which conveys the idea of paying attention and responding. This highlights the relational aspect of prayer, where God listens and acts according to His will. The prayers offered were intercessory, standing in the gap for the land and its people. This reflects the biblical principle that God is attentive to the cries of His people and is willing to intervene in their circumstances. The historical context here is crucial, as the land was suffering under a divinely sent plague, and God's response signifies His mercy and willingness to restore. and the plague on Israel was halted
The halting of the plague is a direct result of David's obedience and God's mercy. The Hebrew word for "plague" is "magephah," which denotes a severe affliction or calamity. This cessation of the plague is a powerful testament to God's power to heal and restore. It underscores the biblical theme of repentance leading to restoration. In the broader narrative of Scripture, plagues often serve as instruments of divine judgment, but they also provide opportunities for repentance and renewal. The halting of the plague signifies a new beginning for Israel, a return to divine favor and blessing. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe King of Israel who, after realizing his sin of conducting a census, seeks to make amends with God by building an altar and offering sacrifices. 2. The LORD (Yahweh)The God of Israel who responds to David's repentance and offerings by halting the plague on Israel. 3. Araunah the JebusiteThe owner of the threshing floor where David builds the altar. His land becomes the site of David's offerings. 4. The PlagueA divine punishment sent by God as a result of David's sin, which is stopped after David's offerings. 5. The AltarA place of sacrifice and worship built by David to seek God's mercy and forgiveness. Teaching Points Repentance and RestorationDavid's actions demonstrate the importance of genuine repentance and seeking restoration with God. When we sin, we must turn back to God with a sincere heart. The Power of SacrificeThe offerings made by David symbolize the need for atonement and reconciliation with God. In the New Testament, Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice, fulfilling the need for offerings. God's MercyThe halting of the plague shows God's willingness to forgive and restore when we approach Him with humility and contrition. The Importance of ObedienceDavid's obedience in building the altar and offering sacrifices as instructed by God highlights the importance of following God's commands. Intercessory PrayerDavid's actions and the resulting cessation of the plague underscore the power of intercessory prayer on behalf of others. Bible Study Questions 1. What does David's response to his sin teach us about the nature of true repentance? 2. How does the concept of sacrifice in the Old Testament relate to the sacrifice of Jesus in the New Testament? 3. In what ways can we build "altars" in our own lives to seek God's presence and forgiveness? 4. How does God's response to David's offerings encourage us to trust in His mercy and grace? 5. What role does obedience play in our relationship with God, and how can we apply this in our daily lives? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Chronicles 21This parallel account provides additional details about the events leading to the building of the altar and the offerings made by David. Genesis 8:20-21Noah builds an altar and offers sacrifices, and God responds favorably, similar to David's actions and God's response in 2 Samuel 24:25. Hebrews 13:15-16Encourages believers to offer sacrifices of praise and good deeds, drawing a parallel to the concept of offerings pleasing to God. People Araunah, Canaanites, Dan, David, Gad, Gadites, Hittites, Hivite, Hivites, Joab, ZidonPlaces Aroer, Beersheba, Dan, Gilead, Jazer, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Kadesh, Negeb, Sidon, TyreTopics Altar, Ascend, Averted, Behalf, Buildeth, Built, Burned, Burnt, Burnt-offerings, Causeth, David, Disease, Ear, Entreated, Fellowship, Heeded, Held, Intreated, Making, Moved, Offered, Offerings, Peace, Peace-offerings, Plague, Prayer, Propitious, Restrained, Sacrificed, Stayed, Stopped, Supplications, ThusDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Samuel 24:25 5240 building
6682 mediation
7302 altar
7364 fellowship offering 2 Samuel 24:10-25 7435 sacrifice, in OT 2 Samuel 24:11-25 4843 plague 2 Samuel 24:16-25 4524 threshing-floor Library The Exile --Continued.
We have one psalm which the title connects with the beginning of David's stay at Adullam,--the thirty-fourth. The supposition that it dates from that period throws great force into many parts of it, and gives a unity to what is else apparently fragmentary and disconnected. Unlike those already considered, which were pure soliloquies, this is full of exhortation and counsel, as would naturally be the case if it were written when friends and followers began to gather to his standard. It reads like …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of DavidThe Universal Chorus
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that stteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. M en have generally agreed to dignify their presumptuous and arrogant ^* disquisitions on the works and ways of God, with the name of wisdom ; though the principles upon which they proceed, and the conclusions which they draw from …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 Letter xix (A. D. 1127) to Suger, Abbot of S. Denis
To Suger, Abbot of S. Denis He praises Suger, who had unexpectedly renounced the pride and luxury of the world to give himself to the modest habits of the religious life. He blames severely the clerk who devotes himself rather to the service of princes than that of God. 1. A piece of good news has reached our district; it cannot fail to do great good to whomsoever it shall have come. For who that fear God, hearing what great things He has done for your soul, do not rejoice and wonder at the great …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux Meditations for one that is Like to Die.
If thy sickness be like to increase unto death, then meditate on three things:--First, How graciously God dealeth with thee. Secondly, From what evils death will free thee. Thirdly, What good death will bring unto thee. The first sort of Meditations are, to consider God's favourable dealing with thee. 1. Meditate that God uses this chastisement of thy body but as a medicine to cure thy soul, by drawing thee, who art sick in sin, to come by repentance unto Christ, thy physician, to have thy soul healed …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Consolations against Impatience in Sickness.
If in thy sickness by extremity of pain thou be driven to impatience, meditate-- 1. That thy sins have deserved the pains of hell; therefore thou mayest with greater patience endure these fatherly corrections. 2. That these are the scourges of thy heavenly Father, and the rod is in his hand. If thou didst suffer with reverence, being a child, the corrections of thy earthly parents, how much rather shouldst thou now subject thyself, being the child of God, to the chastisement of thy heavenly Father, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The Order of Thought which Surrounded the Development of Jesus.
As the cooled earth no longer permits us to understand the phenomena of primitive creation, because the fire which penetrated it is extinct, so deliberate explanations have always appeared somewhat insufficient when applying our timid methods of induction to the revolutions of the creative epochs which have decided the fate of humanity. Jesus lived at one of those times when the game of public life is freely played, and when the stake of human activity is increased a hundredfold. Every great part, …
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus Of Love to God
I proceed to the second general branch of the text. The persons interested in this privilege. They are lovers of God. "All things work together for good, to them that love God." Despisers and haters of God have no lot or part in this privilege. It is children's bread, it belongs only to them that love God. Because love is the very heart and spirit of religion, I shall the more fully treat upon this; and for the further discussion of it, let us notice these five things concerning love to God. 1. The …
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial The Hardening in the Sacred Scripture.
"He hath hardened their heart."-- John xii. 40. The Scripture teaches positively that the hardening and "darkening of their foolish heart" is a divine, intentional act. This is plainly evident from God's charge to Moses concerning the king of Egypt: "Thou shalt speak all that I command thee; and I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not harken unto you, and I will lay My hand upon Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit The Prophet Amos.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. It will not be necessary to extend our preliminary remarks on the prophet Amos, since on the main point--viz., the circumstances under which he appeared as a prophet--the introduction to the prophecies of Hosea may be regarded as having been written for those of Amos also. For, according to the inscription, they belong to the same period at which Hosea's prophetic ministry began, viz., the latter part of the reign of Jeroboam II., and after Uzziah had ascended the …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Samuel 24:25 NIV2 Samuel 24:25 NLT2 Samuel 24:25 ESV2 Samuel 24:25 NASB2 Samuel 24:25 KJV
2 Samuel 24:25 Commentaries
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