1
Satan wanted to bring trouble on the people of Israel, so he made David decide to take a census.
2
David gave orders to Joab and the other officers, "Go through Israel, from one end of the country to the other, and count the people. I want to know how many there are."
3
Joab answered, "May the Lord make the people of Israel a hundred times more numerous than they are now! Your Majesty, they are all your servants. Why do you want to do this and make the whole nation guilty?"
4
But the king made Joab obey the order. Joab went out, traveled through the whole country of Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem.
5
He reported to King David the total number of men capable of military service: 1,100,000 in Israel and 470,000 in Judah.
6
Because Joab disapproved of the king's command, he did not take any census of the tribes of Levi and Benjamin.
7
God was displeased with what had been done, so he punished Israel.
8
David said to God, "I have committed a terrible sin in doing this! Please forgive me. I have acted foolishly."
9
Then the Lord said to Gad, David's prophet,