2 Samuel 23-24: David's final words; a review of his Mighty Men; and the great "census sin".

David makes a final declaration of God's support of his house-not because David was great, but because God's covenant with his household was great. David emphasized the personal relationship, and how God has chosen to speak through him.
The chapter finishes with an account of David's "Mighty Men", those who had accompanied him from his fugitive days in the cave of Adullam.
Chapter 24 tells of one final event sometime during David's reign where pride caused him to consider number the people (for military assessment), not considering that the people belonged to God and not him.
This seems like a small thing, but he knew it was wrong before he did it, and instantly repented when it was complete.
For the crime of this presumptuous sin, David was asked to select 1 of 3 punishment options: seven years of famine. three months of living on the run, or 1 month of plague.
David chooses the 1 month of plague, recognizing that this option will leave all the details to God -- and that the other 2 might hurt others while not affecting him as much personally.
Towards the end of the plague, David's shepherd"s heart causes him to lament that the people are dying because of him. However, God can't strike David or his household down, since God's covenant protects him.
David talks to Gad (the prophet) and is told to make an offering at a threshing floor owned by Araunah.
David visits Araunah, and asks to buy the threshing floor so that he can perform the sacrifice. Araunah counter-offers, saying that David can have, for free, whatever he wants. Floor, oxen, wood from the surrounding tools, everything David needs.
David responds that he would never offer a sacrifice that cost him nothing. (It wouldn't really be a sacrifice then, would it?)
David purchases the entire business, floor, animals, equipment, AND the surround land. As the sacrifice is made, the plague stops at the walls of Jerusalem.
The historical import of this transaction is that the land that David buys will become the plateau upon which Solomon later build his temple.
Which, of course is in the region now under dispute in Israel. The most accurate archaeological assessments now place the Dome of the Rock within the court of the gentiles (which will NOT be measured in Revelation 11:2)
And just outside the Damascus gate, is the other elevation -- Golgotha -- or Calvary -- the same mount where Issac offered HIS son back in Genesis.