1 Chronicles 21:1-8

1Satan attempted to attack Israel by provoking David to count the Israelites.

2David said to Joab and the leaders of the people, “Go, count Israel from Beersheba to Dan. Bring me ⌞the results⌟ so that I may know how many ⌞people⌟ there are.”

3Joab responded, “May the Lord multiply his people a hundred times over. But, Your Majesty, aren’t they all your servants? Why are you trying to do this? Why do you wish to make Israel guilty of ⌞this⌟ sin?”

4However, the king overruled Joab. So Joab left, went throughout Israel, and returned to Jerusalem.

5Joab reported the census figures to David: In Israel there were 1,100,000 men who could serve in the army, and in Judah there were 470,000 who could serve in the army.

6Joab didn’t include Levi and Benjamin in the number because he was disgusted with the king’s order.

7God considered the census to be sinful, so he struck Israel ⌞with a plague⌟.

8David said to God, “I have committed a terrible sin by doing this thing. Forgive me because I have acted very foolishly.”