his territory beyond the promised land. By so doing David “not only impugns the realization of divine promise but also reflects preparation for military conquest presumably directed to territories beyond the divine land grant to Israel, a transgression of the fixed boundaries allotted to Israel by her suzerain.” The sin of the census was the preparation for further military activity that was beyond David’s legitimate right as the Shepherd of Israel. In other words, the census was a sign of territorial
Page 202