1 Chronicles 21:2-14

2So DavidH1732 saidH559 toH413 JoabH3097 andH413 the commandersH8269 of the troopsH5971, “GoH1980 and countH5608 the IsraelitesH3478 fromH884 BeershebaH884 toH5704 DanH1835 and bring meH935H413 a report, so that I may knowH3045 their numberH4557.”

3But JoabH3097 repliedH559, “May the LORDH3068H5921 multiplyH3254 His troopsH5971 a hundredH3967 timesH6471 over. My lordH113 the kingH4428, are they notH3808 allH3605 servantsH5650 of my lordH113? WhyH4100 does my lordH113 wantH1245 to do thisH2063? WhyH4100 should he bringH1961 guiltH819 on IsraelH3478?”

4Nevertheless, the king’sH4428 wordH1697 prevailedH2388 againstH5921 JoabH3097. So JoabH3097 departedH3318 and traveledH1980 throughoutH3605 IsraelH3478, and then he returnedH935 to JerusalemH3389. 5And JoabH3097 reportedH5414 toH413 DavidH1732 the totalH4557 numberH4662 of the troopsH5971. In allH3605 IsraelH3478 there wereH1961 1,100,000H505H3967 menH376 who drewH8025 the swordH2719, including 470,000H702H3967H7657H505H376H8025H2719 in JudahH3063. 6But Joab did notH3808 includeH6485 LeviH3878 and BenjaminH1144 in the countH8432, becauseH3588 the king’sH4428 commandH1697 was detestableH8581 toH854 himH3097.

7ThisH2088 commandH1697 was also evilH7489H5921 in the sightH5869 of GodH430; so He struckH5221 IsraelH3478.

8Then DavidH1732 saidH559 toH413 GodH430, “I have sinnedH2398 greatlyH3966 becauseH834 I have doneH6213 thisH2088 thingH1697. NowH6258 I beg YouH4994 to take awayH5674 the iniquityH5771 of Your servantH5650, forH3588 I have acted veryH3966 foolishlyH5528.”

9And the LORDH3068H413 instructedH1696 GadH1410, David’sH1732H559 seerH2374, 10“GoH1980 and tellH1696 DavidH1732 that this is whatH3541 the LORDH3068 saysH559: ‘IH589 am offeringH5186H5921 you threeH7969 options. ChooseH977 oneH259 of them, and I will carry it outH6213 against you.’”

11So GadH1410 wentH935 and saidH559 toH413 DavidH1732, “This is whatH3541 the LORDH3068 saysH559: ‘You must chooseH6901 12betweenH518 threeH7969 yearsH8141 of famineH7458, threeH7969 monthsH2320 of being swept awayH55951 beforeH6440 your enemiesH6862 and overtakenH5381 by their swordsH2719H341, orH518 threeH7969 daysH3117 of the swordH2719 of the LORDH3068—days of plagueH1698 upon the landH776, with the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068 ravagingH7843 everyH3605 partH1366 of IsraelH3478.’ Now thenH6258, decideH7200 howH4100 I should replyH7725H1697 to Him who sent meH7971.”

13DavidH1732H413 answeredH559 GadH1410, “I am deeply distressedH6862H3966. PleaseH4994, let me fallH5307 into the handH3027 of the LORDH3068, forH3588 His merciesH7356 are veryH3966 greatH7227; but do notH408 let me fallH5307 into the handsH3027 of menH120.”

14So the LORDH3068 sentH5414 a plagueH1698 upon IsraelH3478, and seventyH7657 thousandH505 menH376 of IsraelH3478 fell deadH5307.