2
For the kingsaid to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.
3
And Joabsaid unto the king, Now the LORD thy Godadd unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold*, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the kingdelight in this thing?
4
Notwithstanding the king'swordprevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.
7
And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba.
9
And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israeleighthundredthousandvaliantmen* that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were fivehundredthousandmen.
10
And David'sheartsmote him after that he had numbered the people. And Davidsaid unto the LORD, I have sinnedgreatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done veryfoolishly.
13
So Gadcame to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall sevenyears of faminecome unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou fleethreemonthsbefore thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be threedays'pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
14
And Davidsaid unto Gad, I am in a greatstrait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
15
So the LORDsent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the timeappointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beershebaseventythousandmen.
16
And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORDrepented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough:stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.
17
And Davidspake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father'shouse.
19
And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORDcommanded.
h'wh.y h\Wic r,v]a;K d'G -r;b.diK diw'D l;[;Y;w
20
And Araunahlooked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.
21
And Araunahsaid, Wherefore is my lord the kingcome to his servant? And Davidsaid, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.
22
And Araunahsaid unto David, Let my lord the kingtake and offer up what seemeth good unto him:behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.
24
And the kingsaid unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surelybuy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So Davidbought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fiftyshekels of silver.
25
And Davidbuilt there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.