Overview:
The event known as "A Plague on Israel" refers to several instances in the Hebrew Bible where God sends a plague upon the Israelites as a form of judgment or punishment for their disobedience or sin. These plagues serve as significant theological and narrative elements within the biblical text, illustrating themes of divine justice, repentance, and mercy.

Key Instances:

1. The Plague Following the Census (2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21):
· Context: King David orders a census of Israel and Judah, an act that displeases God. The reasons for God's displeasure are debated among scholars, with suggestions including pride, lack of trust in God, or failure to collect the required ransom for each person counted (Exodus 30:12).
· Divine Judgment: As a consequence, God offers David a choice of three punishments: three years of famine, three months of fleeing from enemies, or three days of plague. David chooses the plague, saying, "Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for His mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men" (2 Samuel 24:14).
· The Plague: The Lord sends a plague upon Israel, resulting in the death of 70,000 men. The angel of the Lord is then sent to destroy Jerusalem but is stopped by God at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
· Aftermath: David builds an altar on the threshing floor, offering sacrifices to God, and the plague is halted. This site later becomes the location for Solomon's Temple.

2. The Plague of Fiery Serpents (Numbers 21:4-9):
· Context: During the Israelites' wilderness journey, they grow impatient and speak against God and Moses, complaining about the lack of food and water.
· Divine Judgment: In response, the Lord sends venomous snakes among the people, and many Israelites die from snakebites.
· Repentance and Healing: The people come to Moses, confessing their sin, and ask for the removal of the snakes. God instructs Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. Those who look at the bronze serpent are healed, illustrating a theme of faith and divine provision.

3. The Plague at Baal Peor (Numbers 25:1-9):
· Context: While camped at Shittim, the Israelites engage in sexual immorality with Moabite women and participate in the worship of Baal of Peor.
· Divine Judgment: God's anger is kindled against Israel, and He sends a plague that kills 24,000 people.
· Zeal of Phinehas: The plague is stopped when Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, acts zealously by killing an Israelite man and a Midianite woman who were flagrantly sinning. This act of zeal is commended by God, and the covenant of peace is established with Phinehas.

Theological Themes:

· Divine Justice and Mercy: The plagues serve as manifestations of God's justice in response to sin, yet they also highlight His mercy, as seen in the opportunities for repentance and the cessation of the plagues.
· Human Responsibility and Repentance: The narratives emphasize the importance of human responsibility in maintaining faithfulness to God and the necessity of repentance when sin occurs.
· Intercession and Mediation: Figures like Moses and David play crucial roles as intercessors, mediating between God and the people, and their actions often lead to the mitigation or cessation of divine judgment.

Related Concepts:

· Covenant Relationship: The plagues underscore the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where blessings are contingent upon obedience, and curses follow disobedience.
· Typology and Foreshadowing: The bronze serpent incident is later referenced in the New Testament (John 3:14-15) as a typological foreshadowing of Christ's crucifixion and the salvation offered through faith in Him.

References:
· 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21
· Numbers 21:4-9
· Numbers 25:1-9
· Exodus 30:12
· John 3:14-15