2 Samuel 23:24 | 2 Samuel 25 | 1 Chronicles 11:26-47, 21:1-30

As David’s life nears its end, God is angry with the sins of Israel, and He allows the devil to tempt David with pride, so that he sins in numbering the people in Israel. This is an act of pride, in that David wanted an accounting of all the people under his command, however he is convicted of his sin when the deed is done, and he seeks forgiveness of God.

However, God gives him a choice of punishments, and David prefers to fall into the hand of God, rather than his enemies. 70,000 people in Israel are killed by the angel of the Lord before coming to Jerusalem, where God halts the killing as the angel stands above the threshing floor and property of Ornan the Jebusite.

God commands that David sacrifice an offering to Him on Ornan’s threshing floor, so David purchases his place of threshing wheat, as well as the rest of the property that is known today as the Temple Mount. God burns up David’s sacrifice with fire from heaven, and His anger is put away. This will be the place where Solomon will build the temple to God’s Name.