Deuteronomy 28:25

The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

Ver. 25. The Lord shall cause thee to be smitten.] David well understood the heaviness of this stroke, and therefore chose rather to fall into God's hands another way, 2Sa 24:14 since "the tender mercies of the wicked are cruelties": -

“ Una salus victis nullam sperare salutem. ”