2 Samuel 24:5
And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer: And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:
This stage records Joab's party in the census of Israel under David crossing the Jordan and pitching in Aroer on the right side of the city lying in the midst of the river of Gad and toward Jazer. The numbering was still in progress at this point in the journey through Gad toward Jazer. The work was not fully completed when David was convicted of great sin and foolishness in numbering the people and humbled himself in confession.
The numbering was sinful in motive, reflecting David's pride and ambition and selfishness in an effort to count the people. The work of numbering Israel was not according to God's order. It displeased God. It encouraged Israel to trust in its numbers rather than in God.
David's repentance came too late to stop the punishment already decreed, leaving him to choose the punishment. He chose to fall into the hands of a merciful God rather than into the cruel mercies of wicked men. Swift destruction came by pestilence and killed seventy thousand. David and the elders mourned in deepest humiliation while the angel with drawn sword stretched over Jerusalem went to destroy it, and God commanded him to stay his work of death because He still loved His people despite rebellion.
In terror and compassion David begged God to save the sheep and to let His hand be against him and his father's house and not upon the people. God through His prophet bade David make atonement, his heart was in the work and his repentance was accepted. At Araunah's threshing-floor, freely offered with cattle and all needful for sacrifice, he insisted on buying for full price and would not come before the Lord with an offering costing him nothing. There he offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, and God accepted by sending fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice and commanded the angel to put his sword into his sheath and cease destruction.