During his final days, David orders that a census be conducted across his kingdom. When God reprimands him for this sin, the king decides to atone for it and repent. Gad, a prophet, lays out three alternatives from which David may select for his heavenly punishment. David protests as some of the options will affect the entire nation, even though it was only he who sinned. However, the prophet explains since all of Israel took part in the census, communal punishment is therefore inevitable. David accepts and chooses the plague. Disease spreads throughout the land. However, before the pandemic reaches Mount Moriah – the place where the Temple will soon be built – an angel stops it, proving it was all the doing of the divine presence.
“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 very foolishly. For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, 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” (2 Samuel 24:10-12)
Higher consciousness is achieved through study, which is motivated by curiosity; curiosity is where the process begins.
