It is based on 2 Samuel 24. It is a bizarre story in which God instructs King David to take a census of Israel and Judah. David does so, but with a twist. David counts only troops, apparently to assess his military strength. God is not amused. After a period of judgment, which David is “allowed” to choose, the king ends up being pastoral rather than monarchial with his people. The same story is told from a radically different point of view in 1 Chronicles 21.
