David’s Atonement: The Narrative Function of 2 Samuel 24:18-25 in 1-2 Samuel

Abstract

The last chapter of 2 Samuel contains a thought-provoking story about David ordering a census and the consequences of his decision. This episode, as well as other passages placed at the end of 2 Samuel (chapters 21–24), are sometimes seen as a collection of free units which have no literary function in the narrative line of the Books of Samuel. While arguing that it is not the case, this paper aims at unveiling the narrative role of the very last scene of the above episode.