4
Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.
5
Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people to David. All those of Israel were one million one hundred thousand men who drew sword: and in Judah were four hundred seventy thousand men who drew sword.
6
But he didn't count Levi and Benjamin among them; for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
7
God was displeased with this thing; therefore he struck Israel.
8
David said to God, I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing: but now, put away, I beg you, the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.
9
Yahweh spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying,
10
Go and speak to David, saying, Thus says Yahweh, I offer you three things: choose you one of them, that I may do it to you.
11
So Gad came to David, and said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Take which you will:
12
either three years of famine; or three months to be consumed before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you; or else three days the sword of Yahweh, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of Yahweh destroying throughout all the borders of Israel. Now therefore consider what answer I shall return to him who sent me.
13
David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall, I pray, into the hand of Yahweh; for very great are his mercies: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
14
So Yahweh sent a pestilence on Israel; and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.