NOTES for Sa2 24:1-25
The account of the census begins by mentioning the Lord’s anger against the Israelites. The narrator does not specify what provoked His anger on this occasion, but we are nevertheless entitled to view the census initiated by David in connection with the people’s general sinful condition, for which an account had to be given. Through the prophet Gad, the Lord offers David the choice of punishment, and David chooses the shortest one.
But even the brief epidemic proved excessively devastating. When David sees the scale of the calamity, he not only implores the Angel to stop the destruction, but also asks that he himself be punished if only the people may be spared. Significantly, when David addresses the Lord, he compares the people to sheep and thereby likens himself to a shepherd. Indeed, in this episode David acts like that very good shepherd who is ready to suffer for his sheep, of whom the Son of David will speak many years later.