2 Samuel 24:10

David's heart smote him. It appears from 1 Chronicles 27:24 that the census was not completed, and, though Joab had visited Judah, he had not even begun to enrol the names of the men of the tribe of Benjamin ( 1 Chronicles 21:6 ). It appears also that the displeasure of God was manifesting itself before David repented ( 1 Chronicles 21:7 ; 1 Chronicles 27:24 ). Some sign of this, either in public trouble, or in the brooding of the pestilential miasma over the land, brought home to David's mind the conviction of sin; and he at once humbled himself before God, for the vanity of mind which had engendered in him a wicked lust after martial glory and thirst for bloodshed. I have done very foolishly .