2 Samuel 24:12
Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
Go, and say unto David,.... Not my servant David, as Nathan was bid to say to him when it was in his heart to build an house for him, 2 Samuel 7:5; but now he had sinned and displeased the Lord, and therefore it is only plain David:
Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; or lay them before thee to consider of which thou wouldest have done; the Targum is,
"one of three things I cast upon thee,''
as a burden to bear; one of the three I will certainly inflict upon thee by way of chastisement:
choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee; here is mercy mixed with judgment; the Lord is angry, yet shows great condescension and goodness; a sovereign Being, who could have imposed what punishment he pleased, and even all the three after mentioned, yet resolves but on one, and leaves that to the option of David.