Joe: Welcome to the show Bible Expert! Let's dive into 2 Samuel 24.

Bible Expert: Sure, Joe. So this chapter begins with God being angry with Israel and sending a plague to punish them.

Joe (interrupting): Whoa wait, why was God so mad?

Bible Expert: Well, Joe, the people were sacrificing to false gods and disobeying God's commands.

Joe: Gotcha. Keep going.

Bible Expert: Okay, so God instructs David to take a census of the people, but David does it anyway. As a result, God punishes the people with a plague. The plague kills 70,000 people before it's stopped.

Joe (interrupting): Whoa, that's intense! What did David do to stop it?

Bible Expert: David pleads with God to stop the plague and offers a sacrifice to atone for the sin. God accepts his offering and stops the plague.

Joe: Wow, that's incredible. Anything else happen in the chapter?

Bible Expert: Yes, Joe. An angel appears to David and tells him to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. So David purchases the threshing floor and builds an altar to God. God accepts his offering and the plague stops.

Joe: Wow, so God really came through for David. Anything else we should know about this chapter?

Bible Expert: Well, Joe, this chapter also shows us the power of God's mercy and grace. Even though David disobeyed him, God still showed mercy and spared the people from destruction.