2 Samuel 24:16

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.

And when the angel {H4397} stretched out {H7971} his hand {H3027} upon Jerusalem {H3389} to destroy {H7843} it, the LORD {H3068} repented {H5162} him of the evil {H7451}, and said {H559} to the angel {H4397} that destroyed {H7843} the people {H5971}, It is enough {H7227}: stay {H7503} now thine hand {H3027}. And the angel {H4397} of the LORD {H3068} was by the threshingplace {H1637} of Araunah {H728} the Jebusite {H2983}.

But when the angel stretched out his hand toward Yerushalayim to destroy it, ADONAI changed his mind about causing such distress and said to the angel destroying the people, "Enough! Now withdraw your hand."The angel of ADONAI was at the threshing-floor of Aravnah the Y'vusi.

But when the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!” At that time the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Jehovah repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough; now stay thy hand. And the angel of Jehovah was by the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

Commentary

Context

This verse appears at the climax of the narrative concerning King David's unauthorized census of Israel. This act, described as a sin in 2 Samuel 24:10, provoked the LORD's anger, leading to a severe plague upon the nation. David was given a choice of three punishments (2 Samuel 24:13), and he chose to "fall into the hand of the LORD" (2 Samuel 24:14), knowing His mercies are great. Verse 16 marks the pivotal moment God's judgment, delivered by an angel, is halted.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Mercy: The plague was a direct consequence of David's sin and God's righteous anger, demonstrating His justice. However, the verse powerfully pivots to God's profound mercy. Even in judgment, God limits the destruction, showing compassion for His people and declaring "It is enough."
  • The Angel of the LORD as an Agent: The "angel that destroyed the people" is depicted as God's instrument for executing divine will. His actions cease only by direct command from the LORD, highlighting God's ultimate sovereignty over life and death.
  • Significance of Location: The plague is stopped at the "threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite." This seemingly ordinary location becomes immensely significant as it is where David builds an altar and offers sacrifices (2 Samuel 24:18-25), and later becomes the site for Solomon's Temple (2 Chronicles 3:1), Jerusalem's holiest place.

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "the LORD repented him of the evil" uses an anthropomorphism, attributing human-like emotion to God. The Hebrew word for "repented" (נָחַם, nacham) here doesn't imply a change of mind in the sense of regret or error, but rather a cessation of action, a compassionate turning from the planned judgment, or a shift in His disposition towards His people. The "evil" (רָעָה, ra'ah) refers to the calamity or disaster, not moral wickedness. It signifies God's compassion overriding His wrath, leading to the immediate halt of the devastating plague and the saving of Jerusalem.

Significance and Application

This verse offers profound insights into God's character. It reassures believers that even in the midst of divine judgment for sin, God's mercy prevails and He sets limits to His wrath. The immediate cessation of the plague at a specific site foreshadows the concept of atonement and the need for a place of sacrifice to reconcile humanity with God. The location, Araunah's threshingfloor, becoming the Temple Mount, underscores that God's mercy often manifests at the very place where sin is acknowledged and sacrifice is made. For us today, it reminds us of God's readiness to show compassion when there is repentance and a turning towards Him, and that His ultimate mercy is found in the atoning work of Christ.

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Cross-References

  • Joel 2:13 (6 votes)

    And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he [is] gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

  • Joel 2:14 (6 votes)

    Who knoweth [if] he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; [even] a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

  • Genesis 6:6 (5 votes)

    ¶ And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

  • Exodus 12:23 (5 votes)

    For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite [you].

  • 1 Samuel 15:11 (4 votes)

    It repenteth me that I have set up Saul [to be] king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

  • Acts 12:23 (4 votes)

    And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

  • 2 Kings 19:35 (4 votes)

    ¶ And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they [were] all dead corpses.