2 Samuel 24:10 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

David said,—I have sinned— The specific nature of his sin may be easily determined and understood, though it has embarrassed many of the commentators; for, among other commands which were given by Moses, was that recorded Exodus 30:12-13 to which the reader is referred. David, either not thinking of this command, or thinking himself, as king of Israel, exempt from it, ordered the people to be numbered without exacting the ransom from each of them. This was one of the highest stretches of power, assuming a prerogative which God reserved to himself, and a violation of one of the standing laws of the kingdom. But God, to support the dignity of his own constitution, and to put David in mind, that, though king, he was still to limit the exercise of his power by the precepts of the law, gives him by the prophet the option of three punishments, of which David chose the plague, recollecting probably, at last, that this was the very punishment threatened by God for the violation of this statute concerning the numbering of the people, as well as for the reason he himself alleged; 2 Samuel 24:14. Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord, for his mercies are great. Dr. Delaney observes, that had he chosen either war or famine, his wealth and his power had easily secured himself and family from any imminent danger of either. But in this consisted his heroism [and, may I add, his piety], that he chose that evil which he himself risked in common with his meanest subject.