1 Chronicles 21:2-14

2And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it . 3And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times more than they are : but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel? 4Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. 5And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. And all they of Israel were a million and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred and seventy thousand men that drew sword. 6But Levi and Benjamin he counted not among them: for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.

7And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.1 8And David said to God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. 9And the LORD spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying, 10Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things : choose thee one of them, that I may do it to thee.2 11So Gad came to David, and said to him, Thus saith the LORD, Choose thee3 12Either three years’ famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while the sword of thy enemies overtaketh thee ; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the land of Israel. Now therefore consider thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me. 13And David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.4 14So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.