Counting, Accounting, and Accountability: A Closer Look at King David’s Final Census

Abstract

The end of the Perek, the closing of Sefer Shmuel, depicts a somber scene and a nation now having to rebuild from tragedy. The results of this episode leave a tremendous impact on the nation, either practically that 70,000 people are killed, or the concept of Ramban that the place of Makom Hamikdash was revealed. Ultimately David is successful in healing the nation and stopping the plague. Nevertheless in the aftermath David is left weak, closing the Sefer on a dwindling image of David and his Malchus.(from Conclusion)