4
Nevertheless the king'swordprevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joabdeparted , and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.
5
And Joabgave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousandthousand and an hundredthousandmen that drewsword: and Judah was fourhundred threescore and tenthousandmen that drewsword.
6
But Levi and Benjamincounted he not among them: for the king'sword was abominable to Joab.
7
And God was displeased* with this thing; therefore he smoteIsrael.
8
And Davidsaid unto God, I have sinnedgreatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done veryfoolishly .
10
Go and tellDavid,saying , Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
11
So Gadcame to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD,Choose thee
12
Either threeyears'famine; or threemonths to be destroyedbefore thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemiesovertaketh thee; or else threedays the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORDdestroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.
13
And Davidsaid unto Gad, I am in a greatstrait : let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for verygreat are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.
14
So the LORDsentpestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israelseventythousandmen.
Excepting the three last verses, is contained in 2Sa 24:1-25 with some few variations, which are there observed; see the notes there. 18894-950102-2025-1Ch21.2