I struggle with the concept of the sins of a leader are vested upon the people.  It is stated in the words of Moses:

Keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation. Exodus 34:7

My study today is found in II Samuel 24:1-4.  A quick boiled down commentary is needed first:

1.        God was angry with the divided Hebrew nations of Israel and Judah.

2.       God’ anger was characterized by a burning anger.

3.       God incited (encouraged or stir up) violent behavior of David to do something that the people would not like.

4.       The punishment of the two nations was to be a census.  This meant everyone that was not in their tribal lands had to return to be counted.

5.       David really didn’t understand the command from God and decided only to count the men at arms. He probably thought they were the only ones that counted.

a.       It was probably easier for David to delegate the job to someone else

b.       It was probably David’s thinking that his own people were protected by soldiers rather than God.

c.       God was angry at the people not at him.

6.       David gave the Joab and the army commanders with them to do the census of the rank and file of the army.  Then told them to report back when they were finished.

7.       Joab, trying to understand the need explained to David that the number of soldiers were not as important as the Lord God who led them.

8.       Joab questioned David as to why then did he need a census of the solders.

9.       David just told him to do it.

So the pain of a census was now moved from David measuring all the people, to the commanders who had to count the solders.  Joab and his commanders left and did what David the kind commanded.

Picking up the story at verse 10.

1.       Somehow,  between the time of the sending of Joab and the commanders  and the results being returned, David realized his mistake.

2.       David was filled with guilt and asked God to forgive him after a contrite confession.

3.       While still in bed the next morning Gad the prophet showed up and presented three options of punishment for David.

a.       Three years of famine

                                                               i.      They had just endured a famine a few years earlier

                                                             ii.      It affected both of the countries of Judah and Israel including David and his household.

b.       To be pursued for three months by his enemies.

                                                               i.      It would not affect the people.

                                                             ii.      It would be a punishment for David only.

                                                           iii.      I would put David’s on wellbeing in jeopardy.

c.       A plague across both nations for three days.

                                                               i.      It would affect the people

                                                             ii.      David probably assumed Jerusalem would be spared

4.       David responded with the one the least likely to affect him. “Don’t let me fall into human hands.”

5.       The Lord sent a plague and killed 1.3 million people.

6.       The plague was approaching David’s home in Jerusalem and he realized this sin of his might actually affect him.

7.       David cries out to the avenging angel of plague and realized he was the cause of the punishment and he was now close to being touched by his sin’s consequences.

8.       David OK let it fall on me and my family.

Here is the issue number one:  Who was God really angry with? 

1.       Was it at David the anointed king and leader of Judah?

2.       Was it at the two nations that could not join together to be the theocracy they were designed to be?

3.       Was it general anger at everything both the king and the nation were doing?

Here is my take in simple terms:  The people were not where they should be in their relationship to God.  David’s response was to interpret wrongly what God wanted and the people paid the price.

Now after all that I end up with the concept why did 1.3 million die by plague in Israel and Judah?  I don’t believe it was because David sinned by not doing what God wanted.  What God really wanted was for David to lead the nation back to a righteous relationship with God.  The people were punished severely for their behaviors, their conscious acts, for their rebellion, for not following the will of God.