1 Chronicles 21:1–14

David Sins by Numbering Israel

^1aThen Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to number Israel.

²So David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, “^aGo, count Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, and bring me word that I may know their total count.”

³But Joab said, “^aMay Yahweh add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord seek this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?”

⁴Nevertheless, the king’s word stood strong against Joab. So, Joab went out and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

⁵And Joab gave the total count of the ¹census of the people to David. And ^aall Israel were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword; and Judah was 470,000 men who drew the sword.

^6aBut he did not ¹number Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king’s ²command was abominable to Joab.

⁷And this thing was displeasing in the sight of God, so He struck Israel.

⁸Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing. ^aBut now, please take away the iniquity of Your slave, for I have acted very foolishly.”

⁹And Yahweh spoke to ^aGad, David’s ^bseer, saying,

¹⁰“Go and speak to David, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “I ¹am offering you three things; choose for yourself one of them, and I will do that to you.” ’ ”

¹¹So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘Take for yourself

^12aeither three years of famine, or three months to be swept away before your adversaries, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of Yahweh, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of Yahweh destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ So now, see what word I should return to Him who sent me.”

¹³Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me now fall into the hand of Yahweh, ^afor His compassions are exceedingly abundant. But do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

^14aSo Yahweh ¹sent a pestilence against Israel; and 70,000 men of Israel fell.