L’angelo del censimento (1Cr 21,15-16)

The Angel’s apparition to David after che census has always been interpreted as a thread against the people of God. The Angel of the Lord «with a drawn sword in his hand» appears only on three occasions: 1Chr 21, Num 22 and Josh 5. The lexical analysis of these texts reveals some common elements and refers to other passages that suggest a new interpretation of the event. The Angel threatens the Jebusite city of Jerusalem and could destroy it as it did with Jericho, but David pleads for the Jebusites and saves it, acquiring the right to be the king.