Second Samuel 21—24 provides a series of non-chronological stories showing God's work in David's reign. At the center (2 Samuel 22:1—23:7) are two of David's psalms which praise God for His salvation and His blessing, particularly when David obeys Him. Second Samuel 21:15–22 and 23:8–39 provide specific details on how God has equipped David to protect Israel from its enemies.

Second Samuel 24 partners with 2 Samuel 21:1–14 as the outermost stories in this mirrored structure, called a "chiasm." Second Samuel 21 tells how Saul had sinned against the Gibeonites. David handed over some of Saul's sons and grandsons to atone for that sin. Second Samuel 24 tells how God is angry with Israel and disciplines them by sending a devastating plague. The inner levels of the chiasm show that God loves to rescue and bless His people, Israel, when they obey Him (Deuteronomy 28:1–2). The outer levels show that if they sin against Him, He will get their attention in a far less pleasant way (Deuteronomy 28:15).

In 2 Samuel 24, God is angry with Israel for an unstated reason. He plans to discipline Israel, but not directly. It's possible He first needs to bring their attention to the fact that they are sinning. He uses Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1) to influence David to take a census of the fighting men in the nation. Joab resists, but David insists. After almost ten months, Joab presents the results (2 Samuel 24:1–9; 1 Chronicles 21:1–6).

Though the text doesn't say David was guilty of the sin that inspired God's punishment, he immediately repents of the sinful census. God is now ready to judge Israel. He sends the seer Gad to present David with three choices. The options are three years of famine, three months fleeing from an enemy, or three days of deadly plague. David rejects war, trusting God's mercy more than that of other men (2 Samuel 24:10–14; 1 Chronicles 21:7–13).

God sends a destroying angel who kills thousands of men in a plague lasts only a few days. The Lord stops the angel, however, as it reaches Jerusalem, declaring that it is enough. David sees the angel, hovering between earth and sky, its sword held out toward Jerusalem. Below it is the threshing floor of a Jebusite named Araunah. David pleads with the Lord to spare the people in the city, begging Him to focus His wrath on David and his family (2 Samuel 24:15–17; 1 Chronicles 21:14–17).

Gad again brings God's response to the king. David is to build an altar on Araunah's threshing floor and sacrifice burnt offerings. When David explains, Araunah immediately offers his implements for firewood and his oxen and grain for the sacrifice. David refuses to take them for free, insisting that he will not offer a sacrifice that costs him nothing. Once David offers the sacrifice, the plague ends (2 Samuel 24:18–25; 1 Chronicles 21:20–27).

The purpose of 2 Samuel is to reveal the context of the covenant God made with David (2 Samuel 7:8–9). Part of that covenant is that David will have a son who will inherit his throne (2 Samuel 7:12). The first few chapters of 1 Kings follow that theme. Despite scheming of David's son Adonijah, Nathan and Bathsheba ensure that David declares Solomon his successor. Solomon's reign continues through 1 Kings 11. In 1 Kings 12, Solomon's son Rehoboam takes the throne but quickly loses half the nation as judgment against Solomon's idolatry.

First Chronicles 21 tells the same story about the census but for a different reason. It explains how David procured the land for the temple. In the following chapters, from 22 to 29, David organizes the leaders, collects supplies for construction, and instructs Solomon to build the temple.

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