1 Chronicles 21:2-14

2So DavidH1732 saidH559 to JoabH3097 and to the princesH8269 of the peopleH5971, “1GoH1980, numberH5608 IsraelH3478 from BeershebaH884 even to DanH1835, and bringH935 me word that I may knowH3045 their numberH4557.” 3JoabH3097 saidH559, “2May the LordH3068 addH3254 to His peopleH5971 a hundredH3967 timesH6471 as many as they are! But, my lordH113 the kingH4428, are they not allH3605 my lord’sH113 servantsH5650? WhyH4100 does my lordH113 seekH1245 thisH2088 thingH2088? WhyH4100 should he be a causeH819 of guiltH819 to IsraelH3478?” 4Nevertheless, the king’sH4428 wordH1697 prevailedH2388 againstH5921 JoabH3097. Therefore, JoabH3097 departedH3318 and wentH1980 throughout allH3605 IsraelH3478, and cameH935 to JerusalemH3389. 5JoabH3097 gaveH5414 the numberH4557 of the 3censusH4662 of all the peopleH5971 to DavidH1732. And 4allH3605 IsraelH3478 were 1,100,000H505H3967 menH376 who drewH8025 the swordH2719; and JudahH3063 was 470,000H702H3967H7657H505 menH376 who drewH8025 the swordH2719. 65But he did not 6numberH6485 LeviH3878 and BenjaminH1144 amongH8432 them, for the king’sH4428 7commandH1697 was abhorrentH8581 to JoabH3097.

78GodH430 was displeasedH7489H5869 with thisH2088 thingH1697, so He struckH5221 IsraelH3478. 8DavidH1732 saidH559 to GodH430, “I have sinnedH2398 greatlyH3966, in that I have doneH6213 thisH2088 thingH1697. 9But nowH6258, pleaseH4994 takeH5674 awayH5674 the iniquityH5771 of Your servantH5650, for I have doneH5528 veryH3966 foolishlyH5528.”

9The LordH3068 spokeH1696 to 10GadH1410, David’sH1732 11seerH2374, sayingH559, 10“GoH1980 and speakH1696 to DavidH1732, sayingH559, ‘ThusH3541 saysH559 the LordH3068, “I 12offerH5186 you threeH7969 thingsH7969; chooseH977 for yourself oneH259 of them, which I will doH6213 to you.”’” 11So GadH1410 cameH935 to DavidH1732 and saidH559 to him, “ThusH3541 saysH559 the LordH3068, ‘TakeH6901 for yourself 1213eitherH518 threeH7969 yearsH8141 of famineH7458, or threeH7969 monthsH2320 to be sweptH5595 awayH5595 beforeH4480H6440 your foesH6862, while the swordH2719 of your enemiesH340 overtakesH5381 you, or else threeH7969 daysH3117 of the swordH2719 of the LordH3068, even pestilenceH1698 in the landH776, and the angelH4397 of the LordH3068 destroyingH7843 throughout allH3605 the territoryH1366 of IsraelH3478.’ NowH6258, therefore, considerH7200 whatH4100 answerH1697 I shall returnH7725 to Him who sentH7971 me.” 13DavidH1732 saidH559 to GadH1410, “I am in greatH3966 distressH6887; pleaseH4994 let me fallH5307 into the handH3027 of the LordH3068, 14for His merciesH7356 are veryH3966 greatH7227. But do not let me fallH5307 into the handH3027 of manH120.”

1415So the LordH3068 16sentH5414 a pestilenceH1698 on IsraelH3478; 70,000H7657H505 menH376 of IsraelH3478 fellH5307.