1
Now Satan, designing evil against Israel, put into David's mind the impulse to take the number of Israel.
2
And David said to Joab and the captains of the people, Now let all Israel, from Beer-sheba to Dan, be numbered; and give me word so that I may be certain of their number.
3
And Joab said, May the Lord make his people a hundred times more in number than they are; but, my lord king, are they not all my lord's servants? why would my lord have this done? why will he become a cause of sin to Israel?
4
But the king's word was stronger than Joab's. So Joab went out and went through all Israel and came to Jerusalem.
5
And Joab gave David the number of all the people; all the men of Israel, able to take up arms, were one million, one hundred thousand men; and those of Judah were four hundred and seventy thousand men, able to take up arms.
6
But Levi and Benjamin were not numbered among them, for Joab was disgusted with the king's order.
7
And God was not pleased with this thing; so he sent punishment on Israel.
8
Then David said to God, Great has been my sin in doing this; but now, be pleased to take away the sin of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.
9
Then the word of the Lord came to Gad, David's seer, saying,