Shmuel II Perek 24 – FINAL PEREK- YOU DID IT!

“If I reached the Heavens, You’re there. And if I reached the pit of hell… You are also there!” (Tehilim 139.) As we have seen King Dovid reach out to Hashem no matter how dire the situation looked, let us all – the nation of Yisrael – merit to see the ultimate Mashiach, a process that was started by King Dovid and will be finished with the rebuilding of the house of Hashem. Let us all merit to sing sweet songs to Hashem with the Singer of Sweet Songs, Dovid, with the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash.

· Hashem was angry with Yisrael (Rashi and Radak – it’s unclear why Hashem was angry with Yisrael. Abarbanel – an outstanding judgment was still levied against Yisrael for their widespread support for the rebellion of Sheva Ben Bichri. Although Sheva was killed, the sin stilled needed correction.)

· The Satan had placed thoughts into Dovid’s head to take a census of Yisrael. (Metzudos.)

· Dovid ordered Yoav to take a census of Yisrael.

· Yoav tried to persuade Dovid not to.

· Dovid persisted. Yoav consented.

· The census took 9 months and 20 days.

· Yisrael- had 800,000 men of war. Yehudah –had 500,000 men of war.

· Dovid understood with Divine insight that he had sinned by counting Yisrael.

· Dovid confessed his sin immediately.

· Gad HaNavi told Dovid that he has 3 options for punishment: 1) 7 years of famine, 2) 3 months of fleeing from enemies, or 3) a 3-day plague of pestilence.

· Dovid chose 3 days of pestilence.

· 70,000 men died.

· The Angel of destruction spread across the land.

· Dovid saw the Angel on the threshing floor of a man named Arnava.

· Note: Arnava’s threshing floor was on Har Hamoriyah, the future site of the Beis Hamikdash.

· Dovid prayed to Hashem to spare the cattle, as Dovid accepted full responsibility for the sin.

· Gad HaNavi told Dovid to build an altar to bring sacrifices to Hashem on Arnava’s threshing floor.

· Dovid tried to purchase the land from Arnava. Arnava wanted to give the land to King Dovid as a present, but King Dovid insisted on purchasing it.

· Dovid bought Arnava’s land (the site for the Beis Hamikdash) for 50 shekels.

· Dovid offered sacrifices to Hashem and the plague stopped.

You finished! Keep up the great work!