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And 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."
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And Joab answered, "The LORD make His people a 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?"
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Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem.
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And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men who drew the sword.
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But Levi and Benjamin he counted not among them, for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
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And God was displeased with this thing; therefore He smote Israel.
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And David said unto God, "I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing. But now, I beseech Thee, do away with the iniquity of Thy servant, for I have done very foolishly."
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And the LORD spoke unto Gad, David's seer, saying,
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"Go and tell David, saying, `Thus saith the LORD: I offer thee three things. Choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.'"
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So Gad came to David, and said unto him, "Thus saith the LORD: `Choose thee
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either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes while the sword of thine 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 coasts of Israel.' Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring back to Him that sent me."