1 Chronicles 21:1–14

Census Brings Pestilence

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

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

³Joab said, “^aMay the Lord 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 prevailed against Joab. Therefore, Joab departed and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

⁵Joab gave the number of the ¹census of all 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 abhorrent to Joab.

⁷¹God was displeased with this thing, so He struck Israel.

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

⁹The Lord spoke to ^aGad, David’s ^bseer, saying,

¹⁰“Go and speak to David, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “I ¹offer you three things; choose for yourself one of them, which I will do to you.” ’ ”

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

^12aeither three years of famine, or three months to be swept away before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the Lord, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now, therefore, consider what answer I shall return to Him who sent me.”

¹³David said to Gad, “I am in great distress; please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, ^afor His mercies are very great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

^14aSo the Lord ¹sent a pestilence on Israel; 70,000 men of Israel fell.