Matthew Henry Commentary 2 Samuel 24:16-17

"And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Jehovah repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough; now stay thy hand. And the angel of Jehovah was by the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite. And David spake unto Jehovah when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father`s house." — 2 Samuel 24:16-17 (ASV)

Perhaps there was more wickedness (especially more pride) in Jerusalem than elsewhere, and that was the sin then chastised. Therefore, the hand of the destroyer was stretched out upon that city; but the Lord repented of the evil, not changing His mind, but His way.

In the very place where Abraham was stopped from slaying his son, this angel, by a similar countermand, was stopped from destroying Jerusalem. It is for the sake of the great Sacrifice that our forfeited lives are preserved from the destroying angel.

And in David is the spirit of a true shepherd of the people, offering himself as a sacrifice to God for the salvation of his subjects.