2 Samuel 24:10

KJV

¶ And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

KJV (with Strong's)

And David's {H1732} heart {H3820} smote {H5221} him after {H310} that he had numbered {H5608} the people {H5971}. And David {H1732} said {H559} unto the LORD {H3068}, I have sinned {H2398} greatly {H3966} in that I have done {H6213}: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD {H3068}, take away {H5674} the iniquity {H5771} of thy servant {H5650}; for I have done very {H3966} foolishly {H5528}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But after he had taken the census, David was conscience-stricken. David said to ADONAI, "I have greatly sinned in what I have done. But now, ADONAI, please! Put aside your servant's sin, for I have done a very foolish thing."

Berean Standard Bible

After 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.”

American Standard Version

And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto Jehovah, I have sinned greatly in that which I have done: but now, O Jehovah, put away, I beseech thee, the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Samuel 24:10 captures the immediate and profound remorse of King David after he conducted a census of Israel and Judah, an act that displeased the LORD. Overwhelmed by conviction, David confesses his great sin directly to God, acknowledging the foolishness of his actions and humbly pleading for the removal of his iniquity, demonstrating a heart of genuine repentance and a deep awareness of his offense against divine principles.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse appears at the conclusion of 2 Samuel, serving as a poignant epilogue to David's reign and a prelude to the book of 1 Kings. The census narrative, alongside the preceding accounts of famine and war, highlights the ongoing consequences of sin even in the life of God's chosen king. It immediately follows the completion of the census and precedes the LORD's judgment through a plague, setting the stage for David's choice of punishment and the subsequent building of an altar. This account is paralleled in [1 Chronicles 21](/1_chronicles/21 "1 Chronicles 21 - David's Census and Plague"), which adds the detail that Satan incited David, underscoring the spiritual dimension of this transgression.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Censuses in ancient Israel were typically undertaken for military conscription or taxation purposes, often at divine command, as seen in [Numbers 1](/numbers/1 "Numbers 1 - The First Census of Israel"). David's census, however, was not divinely commanded and appears to have stemmed from a motive of pride, a desire to boast in his military strength, or to rely on human resources rather than God's unfailing provision. In a culture where reliance on God was paramount for national security and prosperity, an act that demonstrated self-reliance or a lack of trust was a grave offense. The act of numbering the people without divine instruction could also imply a claim of ownership over God's people, a prerogative reserved for the LORD alone.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates several key themes. It highlights **Divine Displeasure** with human pride and self-reliance, as David's act provokes God's anger. It showcases the theme of **Conviction and Remorse**, as David's heart is "smitten," indicating a deep, internal awareness of wrongdoing, not merely regret for consequences. This leads to **Genuine Repentance and Confession**, as David immediately and directly acknowledges his sin to the LORD, taking full responsibility without excuse. The description of his action as "foolishly" done underscores the theme of **Sin as Folly**, an irrational departure from divine wisdom and trust. Ultimately, it points to the **Sovereignty of God** even amidst human sin and the **Availability of Divine Mercy** for those who humbly confess, setting the stage for the atonement at the threshing floor of Araunah, foreshadowing the site of the future Temple (as seen in [2 Chronicles 3:1](/2_chronicles/3-1 "2 Chronicles 3:1 - Solomon Builds the Temple")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **smote (Hebrew, _nakah'_):** This verb, often translated as "to strike" or "to hit," is used here metaphorically to describe a powerful, internal blow of conscience. It signifies a sudden, sharp, and painful realization of wrongdoing, indicating a deep, immediate, and involuntary sense of guilt and regret that penetrates David's innermost being. It is not merely a superficial feeling but a profound spiritual and emotional impact.
* **sinned greatly (Hebrew, _chata' gadol'_):** The verb _chata'_ means "to miss the mark," "to fall short," or "to transgress." When combined with the adjective _gadol_ ("great" or "much"), it emphasizes the immense magnitude and severity of David's offense in his own eyes and before God. It signifies a significant deviation from God's will and a profound breach of covenantal faithfulness.
* **foolishly (Hebrew, _sakhal'_):** This term denotes acting senselessly, stupidly, or in a morally bankrupt manner. It implies a lack of wisdom and discernment, a senseless act that goes against divine principles and trust. David recognizes that his sin was not merely a mistake but an irrational and morally reprehensible departure from the path of wisdom and obedience to God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people."**: This clause immediately establishes the king's profound internal conviction. The "heart" (לֵב, _lev_) in Hebrew thought is the seat of intellect, will, and emotion—the core of one's being. The verb "smote" indicates a sharp, sudden, and painful awareness of his transgression, arising from his conscience, likely prompted by the Holy Spirit. This conviction occurred *after* the act was complete, suggesting a moment of spiritual clarity following the prideful endeavor.
* **"And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done:"**: This marks David's direct, unreserved, and immediate confession to God. He does not minimize his sin, make excuses, or blame others. The phrase "sinned greatly" underscores his full acknowledgment of the severity and magnitude of his transgression, demonstrating genuine humility and a deep sense of personal responsibility before a holy God.
* **"and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant;"**: This is David's earnest plea for divine forgiveness and cleansing. "Iniquity" (עָוֹן, _avon_) refers to the guilt, punishment, or moral perversity associated with sin. David recognizes that only God possesses the power and authority to remove the burden of his sin and its consequences, demonstrating his reliance on divine mercy rather than self-atonement.
* **"for I have done very foolishly."**: This final declaration encapsulates David's understanding of his sin as an act of profound folly. It implies a senseless, irrational departure from wisdom and trust in God. He recognizes that his actions were not merely a misstep but a grave error in judgment, reflecting a lack of spiritual discernment and a reliance on human strength over divine provision.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent **Literary Devices** to convey David's emotional and spiritual state. **Personification** is evident in the phrase "David's heart smote him," where the heart, an inanimate organ, is given the agency of striking, powerfully conveying the internal, self-inflicted pain of conscience. The use of **Hyperbole** or **Intensification** is seen in David's self-assessment: "sinned greatly" and "very foolishly." These strong adverbs and adjectives emphasize the profound depth of his remorse and the magnitude of his perceived offense, rather than merely stating a fact. Furthermore, David's direct address to the LORD and his subsequent plea follow the pattern of a **Confessional Lament**, a common genre in the Psalms (e.g., Psalm 51), where an individual expresses deep sorrow for sin, confesses it openly, and appeals to God for mercy and restoration. This structure underscores the sincerity and spiritual depth of David's repentance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
David's immediate conviction and heartfelt confession in 2 Samuel 24:10 serve as a profound theological statement on the nature of sin, repentance, and divine mercy. His "smiting heart" illustrates the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing conviction, a necessary precursor to genuine repentance. The acknowledgement of "great" sin and "foolish" action highlights that sin is not merely a breaking of rules but a senseless, prideful departure from God's wisdom and trust. David's plea, "take away the iniquity," underscores the biblical truth that only God can truly forgive and cleanse, revealing the human need for divine intervention in the face of guilt. This moment sets the stage for God's judgment, but also for David's humble acceptance and subsequent act of worship, demonstrating that even in the midst of divine discipline, God's grace is extended to the truly repentant.

* [Psalm 51:1-4](/psalms/51-1 "Psalm 51:1-4 - David's Prayer of Repentance")
* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before a Fall")
* [1 John 1:9](/1_john/1-9 "1 John 1:9 - Confession and Forgiveness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
David's response in 2 Samuel 24:10 offers timeless and profound lessons for believers navigating their own spiritual journeys. His immediate and visceral conviction, where his "heart smote him," serves as a powerful reminder to pay heed to the inner promptings of conscience, which are often the Holy Spirit's gentle or firm nudges toward self-examination and repentance. In a world prone to minimizing sin or deflecting blame, David's unreserved confession—"I have sinned greatly"—stands as a model of humility and integrity. It teaches us the vital importance of taking full responsibility for our actions before God, without excuse or delay. Furthermore, David's recognition that his actions were "very foolishly" done challenges us to view sin not just as a transgression but as an irrational departure from divine wisdom, always leading to detrimental consequences. This verse encourages us to cultivate a heart sensitive to God's will, to practice prompt and honest confession, and to rely fully on God's mercy rather than our own strength or perceived cleverness. Even a king "after God's own heart" could fall, underscoring the universal need for grace and the continuous call to repentance.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How quickly do I acknowledge my own sin when convicted by my conscience or the Holy Spirit?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to rely on my own strength, resources, or wisdom instead of trusting fully in God's provision?**
* **What does David's plea for God to "take away the iniquity" teach me about the nature of true forgiveness and the source of spiritual cleansing?**

### FAQ
**Why was numbering the people a sin for David?**

Answer: The act of numbering people was not inherently sinful, as evidenced by other divinely commanded censuses in the Old Testament (e.g., [Numbers 1](/numbers/1 "Numbers 1 - The First Census of Israel")). However, David's census in 2 Samuel 24 was a sin because it was undertaken without divine command and likely stemmed from a motive of pride, a desire to boast in his military might, or a lack of trust in God's ability to protect and sustain His people. It represented a reliance on human strength and resources rather than divine provision. The parallel account in [1 Chronicles 21:1](/1_chronicles/21-1 "1 Chronicles 21:1 - Satan Incites David") further clarifies that "Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel," indicating a spiritual instigation to an act of disobedience and self-reliance that displeased the LORD.

**What does "David's heart smote him" mean?**

Answer: This phrase vividly describes a sudden, deep, and painful internal conviction of sin. The "heart" in Hebrew thought is the seat of one's inner being, encompassing intellect, will, and emotion. When David's heart "smote him," it signifies a profound and immediate awareness of having offended God, a powerful pang of conscience that brought intense remorse. It indicates genuine spiritual sensitivity and an understanding that his actions were not just a mistake but a grave transgression against the Almighty, leading to a desire for immediate confession and reconciliation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
David's profound confession and plea for the removal of his iniquity in 2 Samuel 24:10 powerfully foreshadow the ultimate solution to humanity's sin problem found in Jesus Christ. David, a king after God's own heart, still succumbed to pride and folly, highlighting the universal human condition of sinfulness and the inability of even the most righteous individual to perfectly obey God's law. His cry, "take away the iniquity of thy servant," articulates the deepest yearning of a guilty conscience for cleansing and reconciliation. This yearning finds its complete fulfillment in Jesus, the true [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Unlike David, Jesus, as the perfect King and [spotless sacrifice](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - The Blood of Christ"), never sinned, never relied on human might, and perfectly fulfilled all righteousness. His atoning death on the cross is the definitive act by which God truly "takes away" our iniquity, offering complete forgiveness and cleansing that no human act or plea could ever achieve. Through faith in Him, believers are not merely forgiven but are reconciled to God, receiving a [new heart](/ezekiel/36-26 "Ezekiel 36:26 - A New Heart and Spirit") and the indwelling Spirit, enabling a sensitivity to sin and a path to genuine repentance that David himself modeled, but which is ultimately perfected and made possible through the [new covenant in Christ's blood](/jeremiah/31-31 "Jeremiah 31:31 - The New Covenant").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 12:13

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

1 Samuel 13:13

And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

Proverbs 28:13

¶ He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy.

1 Samuel 24:5

And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

1 Chronicles 21:8

And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2 Chronicles 16:9

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.