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Lesson 32: Gibeon’s Revenge/David’s Census

Lesson 32 from The United Kingdom by Rhodes Davis.

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Lesson Overview

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 21:1-14 and 24:1-25

Outline of Text

  • David, after inquiring of the Lord, found that a three-year famine was punishment for Saul’s mistreatment of the Gibeonites, 2 Samuel 21:1-14.
    • The Gibeonites were the servants of Israel, Joshua 9:1-27.
    • The Gibeonites demanded seven descendants of Saul to hang in Gibeah.
    • David gave them the descendants but spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan.
    • David buried the bones of Saul and his sons, and the men hanged by the Gibeonites, in the tomb of Kish, Saul’s father.
  • David displeased God by numbering Israel, 2 Samuel 24:1-9.
  • The Old Law prohibited a census (Exodus 20:12) unless God commanded it.
  • 2 Chronicles 21:1 says that “Satan” incited David to number Israel.
  • God, through Gad, offered three punishments for the sin, 2 Samuel 24:10-14.
  • David chose to be at the mercy of God, not man, so God brought a plague upon Israel, 2 Samuel 24:15-25; 1 Chronicles 27:24.
  • David offered a sacrifice to God to stop the plague.
  • God was merciful and stopped the plague after a great destruction.

Questions for Discussion & Study

  1. What does the famine in Israel, for the sake of the Gibeonites, teach us about promises made before God?

  2. Why did God forbid a census except by His command?

  3. Why did David choose a plague instead of the other two options?

  4. Why would David not accept the threshing floor and animals from Araunah?

  5. What does 2 Samuel 24:24 teach us about sacrificing? How can we apply it?