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One-sentence summary: David sins by taking a census, and the Lord sends a plague, David repents and builds an altar to the Lord and the plague subsides, David prepares for the building of God's house, and he tells Solomon to build it as the Lord said he would do.
The anger of the Lord is aroused against Israel, and it says He moves David against them to number the people of Israel and Judah. He tells Joab to go throughout all the tribes and count all the people. When Joab asks him why, no answer of David is recorded, but it says, "The king's word prevailed against Joab and the captains of the army." After nine months, they return to Jerusalem with the number for the king, and there are 800,000 valiant men and 500,000 men from Judah. And it says that David's heart condemns him, and he confesses to the Lord that he has sinned in doing this, that it was foolish, and he asks the Lord to take away his sin. Then, the word of the Lord comes to Gad, David's seer, and the Lord tells him to tell David that He is giving him three choices, and to choose one so that He may do it to him. The choices are: seven years of famine, to flee three months before his enemies while they pursue him, or three days of plague in the land. He tells him to consider the options for him to take back an answer to the Lord. David says he is in distress but that he would rather fall into the hands of the Lord because His mercies are great than into the hand of man. So the Lord sends a plague for three days, and 70,000 men of the people die. The angel of destruction stretches out his hand to destroy it, but the Lord relents and tells him that it is enough. The angel of the Lord is by the threshing floor, and David speaks to him and confesses his sin and asks what the "sheep" (people) have done, and he asks for the Lord's hand to be against him and his father's house only rather than the people. Gad comes to him that day and tells him to make an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor, and he does. The man who owns the threshing floor bows before David and asks why he has come, and David says he has come to buy the threshing floor and build an altar to the Lord so that the plague may be removed from the people. The man offers wood and animals for sacrifice, but David says he will buy it from him, that he refuses to offer burnt offerings to the Lord "with that which costs me nothing." So he purchases the threshing floor and the animals and makes offerings and sacrifices to the Lord. And the Lord hears His prayers and withdraws the plague.
This story is retold in both books, with an interesting line added: "Satan [stands] up against Israel and moves David to number them." There are a few other details added in 2 Chronicles. Joab seems to recognize that the thing is wrong because he says it will cause guilt in Israel. Here it says that there are 1,100,000 men "who [draw] the sword," Judah having 470,000. It says Joab refuses to count Levi and Benjaimin because "the king's word [is] abominable to [him.]" It also says that Lord is displeased. Also, the plague is referred to as the "sword of the Lord," and David is warned beforehand that the angel of the Lord will do this. Reading this description, David's answer to choose the plague makes more sense. It says God had intended to destroy Jerusalem with the angel, but He relents and tells the Angel to stop. In this version, it says that David sees the angel standing between Earth and heaven with a drawn sword standing over Jerusalem, so he and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fall on their faces. David tells God he alone is responsible and not "these sheep," referring to the people. The angel tells Gad to tell David to build an altar there at the threshing floor, and he does. The man who owns the threshing floor and his sons see the angel. His sons flee, but he continues threshing. He sees David and bows to him, and David asks him for the threshing floor for the full price so he can build an altar. The man offers it to him for free, but again David says he will not offer offerings to the Lord with that which costs him nothing. He also says he will not take what belongs to the man to give to God. David builds an altar and makes sacrifices and calls on the Lord, and He answers him from heaven by fire on the altar. The Lord commands the angel, and he returns his sword to his sheath. When David sees the Lord has answered him, he sacrifices there. It says the tabernacle Moses made in the wilderness was at the high place in Gibean, but David could not go there to inquire because he was afraid of the angel.
David says, "This is he house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel." He gathers the aliens to build the house of God, and he provides all the materials. He acknowledges that Solomon is young and inexperienced and that the Lord's house must be "exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries," so before he dies, he makes "abundant preparations" for the building of God's house (sanctuary.) He calls for Solomon and charges him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel. He tells him it was in his heart to build it but that the Lord said he has shed too much blood on the earth in God's sight and that his son will do it; he will be a "man of rest," whom God will give rest from his enemies all around. It says the Lord named him Solomon because the Lord promised to give peace and quietness to Israel in his days, "[and] he will be My son and I will be his Father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever." David blesses Solomon to prosper and build the house of the Lord. But he says, "Only may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding and give you charge concerning Israel." He says he must keep the law of the Lord and then, he will prosper, if he takes care to fulfill God's law and to be strong and of good courage and not fear and be dismayed. David tells him of all his preparation and says he may add to them if he wishes. There are also many skillful men who will build it for him. So he tells him to arise and begin his work and says may the Lord be with him. He also commands the leaders to help him. He says the Lord has subdued the land for him and that Solomon must set his heart and soul to seek the Lord. And the ark and holy articles of the Lord are to be brought into the house that will be built for the name of the Lord.
Thoughts/discussion questions:
What a beautiful line! "I will not make offerings to the Lord with that which costs me nothing!" Let's keep that in mind!