1
And Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel.
2
And David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know
it.
3
And Joab answered, The LORD make his people a hundred times as many more as they
are; but, my lord the king,
are they not all my lord’s slaves? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause of guiltiness unto Israel?
4
Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore, Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem.
5
And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And they found in all Israel eleven times one hundred thousand men that drew sword, and of Judah four hundred seventy thousand men that drew sword.
6
Among these the Levites and the sons of Benjamin were not counted, for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.
7
And God was also displeased with this word; therefore, he smote Israel.
8
And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing; but now, I beseech thee, take away the iniquity of thy slave, for I have done very foolishly.
9
And the LORD spoke unto Gad, David’s seer, saying,
10
Go and tell David, saying, Thus hath the LORD said, I offer thee three
things: choose one of them that I will do unto thee.