2 Samuel 24:1-17

2 Samuel 24:1-17

[1] And again  the anger  of the LORD  was kindled  against Israel,  and he moved  David  against them to say,  number  Israel  and Judah.  [2] For the king  said  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 Joab  said  unto the king,  Now the LORD  thy God  add  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 king  delight  in this thing?  [4] Notwithstanding the king's  word  prevailed  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.  [5] And they passed over  Jordan,  and pitched  in Aroer,  on the right side  of the city  that lieth in the midst  of the river  of Gad,  and toward Jazer:  [6] Then they came  to Gilead,  and to the land  of Tahtimhodshi;  and they came  to Danjaan,  and about  to Zidon,  [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.  [8] So when they had gone  through all the land,  they came  to Jerusalem  at the end  of nine  months  and twenty  days.  [9] And Joab  gave up  the sum  of the number  of the people  unto the king:  and there were in Israel  eight  hundred  thousand  valiant  men  that drew  the sword;  and the men  of Judah  were five  hundred  thousand  men.  [10] And David's  heart  smote  him after  that he had numbered  the people.  And David  said  unto the LORD,  I have sinned  greatly  in that I have done:  and now, I beseech thee, O LORD,  take away  the iniquity  of thy servant;  for I have done very  foolishly.  [11] For when David  was up  in the morning,  the word  of the LORD  came unto the prophet  Gad,  David's  seer,  saying,  [12] Go  and say  unto David,  Thus saith  the LORD,  I offer  thee three  things; choose  thee one  of them, that I may do it unto thee.  [13] So Gad  came  to David,  and told  him, and said  unto him, Shall seven  years  of famine  come  unto thee in thy land?  or wilt thou flee  three  months  before  thine enemies,  while they pursue  thee? or that there be three  days'  pestilence  in thy land?  now advise,  and see  what answer  I shall return  to him that sent  me. [14] And David  said  unto Gad,  I am in a great  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 LORD  sent  a pestilence  upon Israel  from the morning  even to the time  appointed:  and there died  of the people  from Dan  even to Beersheba  seventy  thousand  men.  [16] And when the angel  stretched out  his hand  upon Jerusalem  to destroy  it, the LORD  repented  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 David  spake  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's  house.