David And the Census

2 Samuel 24:1 

And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel and He moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

2 Samuel 24:10 

And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the Lord, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done foolishly.

This seems like a direct contradiction. In verse 1 Yahweh moves David to number the people. Then later David says it's sin and repents for it. You know it is sin because after he addresses GOD, HE gives David a choice between three judgements for his sin.

The question for us as people who seek HIM and want to follow HIS precepts and live in a way that's pleasing to HIM is, huh? How can GOD move David to do something wrong? Then the question is why does HE then punish HIM for it? It doesn't make sense because it's not what actually took place.

We know some things about the LORD that are immutable. One is that HE is good. 

Revelation 4:8
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Isaiah 6:3

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

I Peter 1:16 
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

I John 1:5
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Psalm 98:1
O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

Psalm 145:17
The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

How would it be possible for a righteous, holy GOD in Whom there is no darkness to move any human being to sin? This doesn't work. The reason for that is that something was left out of the translation. Upon reading this contradiction to GOD's nature I decided to search many versions of the Bible and try looking in the original text. I do not know Hebrew, or Greek for that matter, however through some solid teaching I have learned to search through literal translations. In Young's Literal Translation you find what really took place.

2 Samuel 24:1

1 And the anger of Jehovah addeth to burn against Israel, and [an adversary] moveth David about them, saying, `Go, number Israel and Judah.'

The YLT caught the differentiation. GOD's anger burned against Israel because they sinned against GOD and there was no repentance. This opened the door to the the adversary and his imps to come in and influence their hearts. He influenced David to number the people. This was not HIS will, it was the enemy's. Why it was sin is not clear to me at this time, but I am continuing to research it. One thing that is obvious though, is that he numbered the people with a heart that was intent on doing it, knowing it was wrong. Joab even asked him why he was set to do it, reminding him and attempting to reason with him as to why not to do it.

2 Samuel 24

2 And the king saith unto Joab, head of the host that [is] with him, `Go to and fro, I pray thee, through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba, and inspect ye the people -- and I have known the number of the people.' 3 And Joab saith unto the king, `Yea, Jehovah thy God doth add unto the people, as they are, a hundred times, and the eyes of my lord the king are seeing; and my lord the king, why is he desirous of this thing?' 4 And the word of the king is severe towards Joab, and against the heads of the force, and Joab goeth out, and the heads of the force, [from] before the king to inspect the people, even Israel;

He still went ahead and numbered the people. This was not a move of GOD. HE moves people to do what is right, as there is no evil found in HIM. We can rest assured that OUR GOD is always good.

I often use studylight.org to complete studies, as there is access to many versions of the Bible, as well as to Greek translations.