David Confesses and the LORD Sends a Plague

David’s conscience strikes him after the census. Through Gad, God gives three judgment options; David chooses to fall into the LORD’s hand, and a plague strikes until God stops the destroying angel at Jerusalem. David then calls the people “these sheep” and asks that the hand fall on him and his house. This is a probable shepherd-king foreshadowing by contrast of Jesus, the sinless Good Shepherd who actually lays down his life for the sheep.