God. I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing: but now, put away, I beseech thee, the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. 9And the LORD spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying, 10Go and speak unto David, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I [1]offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. 11So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Take which thou wilt; 12either three years of famine; or three months to be consumed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, [2]even pestilence in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore consider what answer I shall return to him that sent me. 13And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very [3]great are his mercies: and let me not fall into the hand of man. 14So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men. 15And God sent an angel unto
8. put away . . . the iniquity] Render perhaps, remove the punishment; cp. Gen. iv. 13, R.V. with marg.: also 1 Sam. xxviii. 10.
9. And the LORD spake] The historian now retraces his steps to describe the circumstances which heralded the approach of the plague.
Gad] He is three times mentioned in Chron., each time as a "seer," viz. xxi. 9 (= 2 Sam. xxiv. 11); xxix. 29; 2 Chr. xxix. 25. He was perhaps an older contemporary of Nathan, who bears the more modern title of "prophet" (cp. 1 Sam. ix. 9).
10. I offer thee three things] The offer is a test of David's character, just as God's different offer in 2 Chr. i. 7 was a test of Solomon's.
12. three years of famine] 2 Sam., seven years of famine (LXX. however three, as Chron.).
three months to be consumed] The correct text, however, is probably that found in 2 Sam. xxiv. 13, or wilt thou flee three months?
the angel of the LORD] Cp. 2 Kin. xix. 35; Acts xii. 23.
coasts] Render, borders, i.e. through the whole land.
13. into the hand of the LORD] The answer reveals the sincerity and efficacy of David's penitence: a right spirit is renewed within him. He now chooses to trust in God.
14. there fell of Israel] 2 Sam. adds, from Dan even to Beer-sheba. The pestilence was throughout the whole land.
15. unto Jerusalem] The peril of the plague extends until Jerusalem itself is threatened.
