Whose idea was it that David called for a census?

[tonychanyt]

Firstly, 2 Samuel 24:

1 Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”

Was it the LORD's idea? God wanted to test David.
Secondly, later reporting suggested that it was Satan who did the inciting. Amplified Bible, 1 Chronicles 21:

1 Satan [the adversary] stood up against Israel and incited David to count [the population of] Israel.

Was it the adversary-satan's idea? God used Satan to tempt David. In the OT, there is no distinction between testing someone or tempting someone. It is all one Hebrew word H5254.
Thirdly, 2 Samuel 24:

9 Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: in Israel there were 800,000 valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were 500,000. 10a But David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done.”

Was it David's idea?
James explained the process in 1:

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

Horizontally speaking, David desired to number the people. He was proud of his army, its impressive numbers, and its military success. He should have given the glory to God. Vertically, the LORD used the adversary-satan to incite/tempt David to take the census. Both are true.
God was not only against David; God used the adversary-satan to incite David against Israel, 2 Samuel 24:

1 Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” …

15 So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning until the appointed time. And there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba 70,000 men.

David was proud of the numbers. God reduced them.
See also

• The anger of the Lord burned against ISRAEL, and he incited DAVID against THEM
• Why was God angry at DAVID for taking the census?

 

[AV1611VET]

Tony, forgive me if I've asked this before, but what denomination are you specifically?

I'm an independent fundamental Baptist.

 

[tonychanyt]

Tony, forgive me if I've asked this before, but what denomination are you specifically?

Good question

See Which denomination do I belong to?.

 

[AV1611VET]

Good question

See Which denomination do I belong to?.

Got it -- thanks!

 

[AV1611VET]

Whose idea was it that David called for a census?

God allowed Satan to prompt David to number them.

Notice in Job that Satan does all the damage, but in the end, Job gives the credit where the credit is due.

Job 42:11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.

 

[rdclmn72]

The census was to count all males after the age of 20, the 1/2 shekel was used for the upkeep of the sanctuary.
David had a different purpose, he had plans to expand his army to make conquest of the neighboring nations.
He had no right to make use of something that was not sanctioned by the law.