2 Samuel 24:7
And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beer-sheba. And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beer-sheba.
This verse is one step in the route of those who numbered Israel in David's census. The numbering was done in pride, ambition and selfishness, to compare the former weakness and few numbers and little strength of Israel when David ascended the throne with its prosperity and increase under his rule. David did not preserve the humility and trust in God of his earlier life, but looked on the accession to the kingdom with pride and took glory to himself, gratifying his ambition by yielding to the temptation of the devil. Israel also had become exalted and proud, forgetting the Giver of all mercies and losing its peculiar and holy character that separated it from surrounding nations. The act was displeasing to God and contrary to His express command and order, done by human judgment rather than according to God's order. It would lead Israel to rely on strength of numbers instead of the living God.
The work was not fully completed before David was convicted of great sin, saw his error, humbled himself, and confessed his folly in foolishly numbering the people. But repentance came too late to stop judgment, because the word had already gone forth to the faithful prophet to offer David his choice of punishments. David showed confidence in God by choosing to fall into the hands of a merciful God rather than the cruel mercies of wicked men. Swift destruction followed, with seventy thousand destroyed by pestilence, while David and the elders lay in deepest humiliation mourning before the Lord. As the angel was on his way to destroy Jerusalem, God in pity and love for His people, notwithstanding their rebellion, bade him stay his work of death.
The angel, clad in warlike garments with a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem, was revealed to David and those with him. Though terribly afraid, David cried out in compassion for Israel and begged God to save the sheep. He confessed that he had sinned and done wickedly, and asked for God's hand to be against him and his father's house and not upon the people. God spoke by His prophet bidding David make atonement, and David's heart was in the work, and his repentance was accepted. The threshing-floor of Araunah, with cattle and everything needful for an altar and sacrifice, was offered freely, but David refused to come before the Lord with an offering that cost him nothing and bought it for full price. He offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings there, and God accepted by answering with fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice, and commanded the angel to put his sword into its sheath and cease destruction.
The same sin of selfishness is repeated in every age as people try to count or claim God's people.