דברי הימים א, פרק כ״א, פסוק י׳

Facing the consequences of his actions, David is placed in a rare and heavy position. God presents him with a fateful choice, asking him to actively determine the nature of his own penalty. Three distinct options are laid out before him, and he must select just one to be carried out [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Behind this requirement to choose lies a fundamental principle of justice and mercy. In truth, David deserved to face all three punishments at once: famine, the sword, and plague. Yet, God extends a profound kindness within the strict boundaries of judgment. By asking David to willingly accept his sentence and actively choose his path, God agrees to inflict only the selected punishment, completely sparing him from the remaining two [מלבי״ם].