¹ And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, 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 strait: 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.

¹⁸ And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.

¹⁹ And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded.

²⁰ And Araunah looked, 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 Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

²² And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take 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.

²³ All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.

²⁴ And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy 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 David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

²⁵ And David built 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.

---

¹ And again ^H3254 the anger ^H639 of the LORD ^H3068 was kindled ^H2734 against Israel, ^H3478 and he moved ^H5496 David ^H1732 against them to say, ^H559 Go, ^H3212 number ^H4487 Israel ^H3478 and Judah. ^H3063

² For the king ^H4428 said ^H559 to Joab ^H3097 the captain ^H8269 of the host, ^H2428 which was with him, Go now through ^H7751 all the tribes ^H7626 of Israel, ^H3478 from Dan ^H1835 even to Beersheba, ^H884 and number ^H6485 ye the people, ^H5971 that I may know ^H3045 the number ^H4557 of the people. ^H5971

³ And Joab ^H3097 said ^H559 unto the king, ^H4428 Now the LORD ^H3068 thy God ^H430 add ^H3254 unto the people, ^H5971 how many soever ^H1992 they be, an hundredfold, ^{H3967 H6471} and that the eyes ^H5869 of my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428 may see ^H7200 it: but why doth my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428 delight ^H2654 in this thing? ^H1697

⁴ Notwithstanding the king's ^H4428 word ^H1697 prevailed ^H2388 against Joab, ^H3097 and against the captains ^H8269 of the host. ^H2428 And Joab ^H3097 and the captains ^H8269 of the host ^H2428 went out ^H3318 from the presence ^H6440 of the king, ^H4428 to number ^H6485 the people ^H5971 of Israel. ^H3478

⁵ And they passed over ^H5674 Jordan, ^H3383 and pitched ^H2583 in Aroer, ^H6177 on the right side ^H3225 of the city ^H5892 that lieth in the midst ^H8432 of the river ^H5158 of Gad, ^H1410 and toward Jazer: ^H3270

⁶ Then they came ^H935 to Gilead, ^H1568 and to the land ^H776 of Tahtimhodshi; ^H8483 and they came ^H935 to Danjaan, ^H1842 and about ^H5439 to Zidon, ^H6721

⁷ And came ^H935 to the strong hold ^H4013 of Tyre, ^H6865 and to all the cities ^H5892 of the Hivites, ^H2340 and of the Canaanites: ^H3669 and they went out ^H3318 to the south ^H5045 of Judah, ^H3063 even to Beersheba. ^H884

⁸ So when they had gone ^H7751 through all the land, ^H776 they came ^H935 to Jerusalem ^H3389 at the end ^H7097 of nine ^H8672 months ^H2320 and twenty ^H6242 days. ^H3117

⁹ And Joab ^H3097 gave up ^H5414 the sum ^H4557 of the number ^H4662 of the people ^H5971 unto the king: ^H4428 and there were in Israel ^H3478 eight ^H8083 hundred ^H3967 thousand ^H505 valiant ^H2428 men ^{H376 H381} that drew ^H8025 the sword; ^H2719 and the men ^H376 of Judah ^H3063 were five ^H2568 hundred ^H3967 thousand ^H505 men. ^H376

¹⁰ And David's ^H1732 heart ^H3820 smote ^H5221 him after ^H310 that he had numbered ^H5608 the people. ^H5971 And David ^H1732 said ^H559 unto the LORD, ^H3068 I have sinned ^H2398 greatly ^H3966 in that I have done: ^H6213 and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, ^H3068 take away ^H5674 the iniquity ^H5771 of thy servant; ^H5650 for I have done very ^H3966 foolishly. ^H5528

¹¹ For when David ^H1732 was up ^H6965 in the morning, ^H1242 the word ^H1697 of the LORD ^H3068 came unto the prophet ^H5030 Gad, ^H1410 David's ^H1732 seer, ^H2374 saying, ^H559

¹² Go ^H1980 and say ^H559 unto David, ^H1732 Thus saith ^H1696 the LORD, ^H3068 I offer ^H5190 thee three ^H7969 things; choose ^H977 thee one ^H259 of them, that I may do it unto thee. ^H6213

¹³ So Gad ^H1410 came ^H935 to David, ^H1732 and told ^H5046 him, and said ^H559 unto him, Shall seven ^H7651 years ^H8141 of famine ^H7458 come ^H935 unto thee in thy land? ^H776 or wilt thou flee ^H5127 three ^H7969 months ^H2320 before ^H6440 thine enemies, ^H6862 while they pursue ^H7291 thee? or that there be three ^H7969 days' ^H3117 pestilence ^H1698 in thy land? ^H776 now advise, ^H3045 and see ^H7200 what answer ^H1697 I shall return ^H7725 to him that sent ^H7971 me.

¹⁴ And David ^H1732 said ^H559 unto Gad, ^H1410 I am in a great ^H3966 strait: ^H6887 let us fall ^H5307 now into the hand ^H3027 of the LORD; ^H3068 for his mercies ^H7356 are great: ^H7227 and let me not fall ^H5307 into the hand ^H3027 of man. ^H120

¹⁵ So the LORD ^H3068 sent ^H5414 a pestilence ^H1698 upon Israel ^H3478 from the morning ^H1242 even to the time ^H6256 appointed: ^H4150 and there died ^H4191 of the people ^H5971 from Dan ^H1835 even to Beersheba ^H884 seventy ^H7657 thousand ^H505 men. ^H376

¹⁶ And when the angel ^H4397 stretched out ^H7971 his hand ^H3027 upon Jerusalem ^H3389 to destroy ^H7843 it, the LORD ^H3068 repented ^H5162 him of the evil, ^H7451 and said ^H559 to the angel ^H4397 that destroyed ^H7843 the people, ^H5971 It is enough: ^H7227 stay ^H7503 now thine hand. ^H3027 And the angel ^H4397 of the LORD ^H3068 was by the threshingplace ^H1637 of Araunah ^H728 the Jebusite. ^H2983

¹⁷ And David ^H1732 spake ^H559 unto the LORD ^H3068 when he saw ^H7200 the angel ^H4397 that smote ^H5221 the people, ^H5971 and said, ^H559 Lo, I have sinned, ^H2398 and I have done wickedly: ^H5753 but these sheep, ^H6629 what have they done? ^H6213 let thine hand, ^H3027 I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's ^H1 house. ^H1004

¹⁸ And Gad ^H1410 came ^H935 that day ^H3117 to David, ^H1732 and said ^H559 unto him, Go up, ^H5927 rear ^H6965 an altar ^H4196 unto the LORD ^H3068 in the threshingfloor ^H1637 of Araunah ^H728 the Jebusite. ^H2983

¹⁹ And David, ^H1732 according to the saying ^H1697 of Gad, ^H1410 went up ^H5927 as the LORD ^H3068 commanded. ^H6680

²⁰ And Araunah ^H728 looked, ^H8259 and saw ^H7200 the king ^H4428 and his servants ^H5650 coming on ^H5674 toward him: and Araunah ^H728 went out, ^H3318 and bowed ^H7812 himself before the king ^H4428 on his face ^H639 upon the ground. ^H776

²¹ And Araunah ^H728 said, ^H559 Wherefore is my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428 come ^H935 to his servant? ^H5650 And David ^H1732 said, ^H559 To buy ^H7069 the threshingfloor ^H1637 of thee, to build ^H1129 an altar ^H4196 unto the LORD, ^H3068 that the plague ^H4046 may be stayed ^H6113 from the people. ^H5971

²² And Araunah ^H728 said ^H559 unto David, ^H1732 Let my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428 take ^H3947 and offer up ^H5927 what seemeth good ^H2896 unto him: ^H5869 behold, ^H7200 here be oxen ^H1241 for burnt sacrifice, ^H5930 and threshing instruments ^H4173 and other instruments ^H3627 of the oxen ^H1241 for wood. ^H6086

²³ All these things did Araunah, ^H728 as a king, ^H4428 give ^H5414 unto the king. ^H4428 And Araunah ^H728 said ^H559 unto the king, ^H4428 The LORD ^H3068 thy God ^H430 accept ^H7521 thee.

²⁴ And the king ^H4428 said ^H559 unto Araunah, ^H728 Nay; but I will surely ^H7069 buy ^H7069 it of thee at a price: ^H4242 neither will I offer ^H5927 burnt offerings ^H5930 unto the LORD ^H3068 my God ^H430 of that which doth cost me nothing. ^H2600 So David ^H1732 bought ^H7069 the threshingfloor ^H1637 and the oxen ^H1241 for fifty ^H2572 shekels ^H8255 of silver. ^H3701

²⁵ And David ^H1732 built ^H1129 there an altar ^H4196 unto the LORD, ^H3068 and offered ^H5927 burnt offerings ^H5930 and peace offerings. ^H8002 So the LORD ^H3068 was intreated ^H6279 for the land, ^H776 and the plague ^H4046 was stayed ^H6113 from Israel. ^H3478

---

¹ And again the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah.

² And the king said to Joab the captain of the host, who was with him, Go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the sum of the people.

³ And Joab said unto the king, Now Jehovah thy God add unto the people, how many soever they may be, a hundredfold; and may the eyes of my lord the king 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 the Jordan, and encamped in Aroer, on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the valley of Gad, and unto Jazer:

⁶ then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan, and round about to Sidon,

⁷ and came to the stronghold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites; and they went out to the south of Judah, at Beer-sheba.

⁸ So when they had gone to and from 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 numbering 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 Jehovah, I have sinned greatly in that which I have done: but now, O Jehovah, put away, I beseech thee, the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

¹¹ And when David rose up in the morning, the word of Jehovah came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

¹² Go and speak unto David, Thus saith Jehovah, 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 thy foes while they pursue thee? or shall there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise thee, and consider what answer I shall return to him that sent me.

¹⁴ And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of Jehovah; for his mercies are great; and let me not fall into the hand of man.

¹⁵ So Jehovah sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed; and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men.

¹⁶ And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Jehovah repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough; now stay thy hand. And the angel of Jehovah was by the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

¹⁷ And David spake unto Jehovah when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.

¹⁸ And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto Jehovah in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

¹⁹ And David went up according to the saying of Gad, as Jehovah commanded.

²⁰ And Araunah looked forth, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

²¹ And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshing-floor of thee, to build an altar unto Jehovah, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

²² And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, the oxen for the burnt-offering, and the threshing instruments and the yokes of the oxen for the wood:

²³ all this, O king, doth Araunah give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, Jehovah thy God accept thee.

²⁴ And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will verily buy it of thee at a price. Neither will I offer burnt-offerings unto Jehovah my God which cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

²⁵ And David built there an altar unto Jehovah, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings. So Jehovah was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

---

¹ And the anger of Jehovah addeth to burn against Israel, and `an adversary' moveth David about them, saying, `Go, number Israel and Judah.'

² And the king saith unto Joab, head of the host that `is' with him, `Go to and fro, I pray thee, through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba, and inspect ye the people -- and I have known the number of the people.'

³ And Joab saith unto the king, `Yea, Jehovah thy God doth add unto the people, as they are, a hundred times, and the eyes of my lord the king are seeing; and my lord the king, why is he desirous of this thing?'

⁴ And the word of the king is severe towards Joab, and against the heads of the force, and Joab goeth out, and the heads of the force, `from' before the king to inspect the people, even Israel;

⁵ and they pass over the Jordan, and encamp in Aroer, on the right of the city that `is' in the midst of the brook of Gad, and unto Jazer,

⁶ and they come in to Gilead, and unto the land of Tahtim-Hodshi, and they come in to Dan-Jaan, and round about unto Zidon,

⁷ and they come in to the fortress of Tyre, and all the cities of the Hivite, and of the Canaanite, and go out unto the south of Judah, to Beer-Sheba.

⁸ And they go to and fro through all the land, and come in at the end of nine months and twenty days to Jerusalem,

⁹ and Joab giveth the account of the inspection of the people unto the king, and Israel is eight hundred thousand men of valour, drawing sword, and the men of Judah five hundred thousand men.

¹⁰ And the heart of David smiteth him, after that he hath numbered the people, and David saith unto Jehovah, `I have sinned greatly in that which I have done, and now, O Jehovah, cause to pass away, I pray Thee, the iniquity of Thy servant, for I have acted very foolishly.'

¹¹ And David riseth in the morning, and the word of Jehovah hath been unto Gad the prophet, seer of David, saying,

¹² `Go, and thou hast spoken unto David, Thus said Jehovah: Three -- I am lifting up for thee, choose thee one of them, and I do `it' to thee.'

¹³ And Gad cometh in unto David, and declareth to him, and saith to him, `Do seven years of famine come in to thee in thy land? or three months art thou fleeing before thine adversary -- and he pursuing thee? or are three days' pestilence in thy land? now, know and see what word I take back to Him sending me.'

¹⁴ And David saith unto Gad, `I have great distress, let us fall, I pray thee, into the hand of Jehovah, for many `are' His mercies, and into the hand of man let me not fall.'

¹⁵ And Jehovah giveth a pestilence on Israel from the morning even unto the time appointed, and there die of the people, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba, seventy thousand men,

¹⁶ and the messenger putteth forth his hand to Jerusalem to destroy it, and Jehovah repenteth concerning the evil, and saith to the messenger who is destroying among the people, `Enough, now, cease thy hand;' and the messenger of Jehovah was near the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

¹⁷ And David speaketh unto Jehovah, when he seeth the messenger who is smiting among the people, and saith, `Lo, I have sinned, yea, I have done perversely; and these -- the flock -- what have they done? Let, I pray Thee, Thy hand be on me, and on the house of my father.'

¹⁸ And Gad cometh in unto David on that day, and saith to him, `Go up, raise to Jehovah an altar in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite;'

¹⁹ and David goeth up, according to the word of Gad, as Jehovah commanded.

²⁰ And Araunah looketh, and seeth the king and his servants passing over unto him, and Araunah goeth out and boweth himself to the king -- his face to the earth.

²¹ And Araunah saith, `Wherefore hath my lord the king come unto his servant?' and David saith, `To buy from thee the threshing-floor, to build an altar to Jehovah, and the plague is restrained from the people.'

²² And Araunah saith unto David, `Let my lord the king take and cause to ascend that which is good in his eyes; see, the oxen for a burnt-offering, and the threshing instruments, and the instruments of the oxen, for wood;'

²³ the whole hath Araunah given, `as' a king to a king; and Araunah saith unto the king, `Jehovah thy God doth accept thee.'

²⁴ And the king saith unto Araunah, `Nay, for I do surely buy from thee for a price, and I do not cause to ascend to Jehovah my God burnt-offerings for nought;' and David buyeth the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver,

²⁵ and David buildeth there an altar to Jehovah, and causeth to ascend burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, and Jehovah is entreated for the land, and the plague is restrained from Israel.

---

¹ And again the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them saying, Go, number Israel and Judah.

² And the king said to Joab the captain of the host, who was with him, Go, I pray thee, through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people.

³ And Joab said to the king, May Jehovah thy God even add to the people, how many soever they be, a hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see [it]; but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?

⁴ But the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the army. And Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king to count the people of Israel.

⁵ And they passed over the Jordan, and encamped in Aroer, on the right side of the city that is in the midst of the ravine of Gad, and toward Jaazer.

⁶ And they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi; and came to Dan-jaan, and to the environs of Sidon;

⁷ and they came to the fortified city of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites and of the Canaanites; and went out to the south of Judah, to Beer-sheba.

⁸ And they went through all the land, and came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

⁹ And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to the king; and there were of Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

¹⁰ And David's heart smote him after he had numbered the people. And David said to Jehovah, I have sinned greatly in what I have done; and now, I beseech thee, Jehovah, put away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

¹¹ And when David arose in the morning, the word of Jehovah came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

¹² Go and say to David, Thus saith Jehovah: I impose on thee three [things]; choose one of them that I may do it unto thee.

¹³ And Gad came to David, and told him, and said to him, Shall seven years of famine come to thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine adversaries while they pursue thee? or shall there be three days' pestilence in thy land? Now be aware and consider what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.

¹⁴ And David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall, I pray thee, into the hand of Jehovah; for his mercies are great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.

¹⁵ And Jehovah sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the set time; and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men.

¹⁶ And the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it; but Jehovah repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed among the people, It is enough: withdraw now thine hand. And the angel of Jehovah was by the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

¹⁷ And David spoke to Jehovah when he saw the angel that smote among the people, and said, Behold, it is I that have sinned, and it is I that have committed iniquity; but these sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I pray thee, be on me, and on my father's house!

¹⁸ And Gad came that day to David, and said to him, Go up, rear an altar to Jehovah in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

¹⁹ And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as Jehovah had commanded.

²⁰ And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on towards him; and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

²¹ And Araunah said, Why is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshing-floor of thee, to build an altar to Jehovah, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

²² And Araunah said to David, Let my lord the king take and offer up that which is good in his sight: see, [here are] oxen for the burnt-offering, and the threshing-sledges and implements of the oxen for wood.

²³ All these things, O king, doth Araunah give to the king. And Araunah said to the king, Jehovah thy God accept thee.

²⁴ And the king said to Araunah, No; but I will in any case buy [them] of thee at a price: neither will I offer up to Jehovah my God burnt-offerings without cost. And David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

²⁵ And David built there an altar to Jehovah, and offered up burnt-offerings and peace-offerings. And Jehovah was propitious to the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

---

¹ Again the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah.

² The king said to Joab the captain of the host, who was with him, Go now back and forth through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number you the people, that I may know the sum of the people.

³ Joab said to the king, Now Yahweh your God add to the people, however many they may be, one hundred times; and may the eyes of my lord the king see it: but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?

⁴ Notwithstanding, the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.

⁵ They passed over the Jordan, and encamped in Aroer, on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the valley of Gad, and to Jazer:

⁶ then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi; and they came to Dan Jaan, and round about to Sidon,

⁷ and came to the stronghold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites; and they went out to the south of Judah, at Beersheba.

⁸ So when they had gone back and forth through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

⁹ Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

¹⁰ David's heart struck him after that he had numbered the people. David said to Yahweh, I have sinned greatly in that which I have done: but now, Yahweh, put away, I beg you, the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.

¹¹ When David rose up in the morning, the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

¹² Go and speak to David, Thus says Yahweh, I offer you three things: choose you one of them, that I may do it to you.

¹³ So Gad came to David, and told him, and said to him, Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? now advise you, and consider what answer I shall return to him who sent me.

¹⁴ David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of Yahweh; for his mercies are great; and let me not fall into the hand of man.

¹⁵ So Yahweh sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning even to the time appointed; and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.

¹⁶ When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Yahweh repented him of the evil, and said to the angel who destroyed the people, It is enough; now stay your hand. The angel of Yahweh was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

¹⁷ David spoke to Yahweh when he saw the angel who struck the people, and said, Behold, I have sinned, and I have done perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me, and against my father's house.

¹⁸ Gad came that day to David, and said to him, Go up, rear an altar to Yahweh in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

¹⁹ David went up according to the saying of Gad, as Yahweh commanded.

²⁰ Araunah looked forth, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

²¹ Araunah said, Why is my lord the king come to his servant? David said, To buy the threshing floor of you, to build an altar to Yahweh, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

²² Araunah said to David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him: behold, the oxen for the burnt offering, and the threshing instruments and the yokes of the oxen for the wood:

²³ all this, king, does Araunah give to the king. Araunah said to the king, Yahweh your God accept you.

²⁴ The king said to Araunah, No; but I will most assuredly buy it of you at a price. Neither will I offer burnt-offerings to Yahweh my God which cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

²⁵ David built there an altar to Yahweh, and offered burnt offerings and peace-offerings. So Yahweh was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

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¹ Again the wrath of the Lord was burning against Israel, and moving David against them, he said, Go, take the number of Israel and Judah.

² And the king said to Joab and the captains of the army, who were with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan as far as Beer-sheba, and have all the people numbered, so that I may be certain of the number of the people.

³ And Joab said to the king, Whatever the number of the people, may the Lord make it a hundred times as much, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it: but why does my lord the king take pleasure in doing this thing?

⁴ But the king's order was stronger than Joab and the captains of the army. And Joab and the captains of the army went out from the king, to take the number of the children of Israel.

⁵ And they went over Jordan, and starting from Aroer, from the town which is in the middle of the valley, they went in the direction of the Gadites, and on to Jazer;

⁶ Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of the Hittites under Hermon; and they came to Dan, and from Dan they came round to Zidon,

⁷ And to the walled town of Tyre, and to all the towns of the Hivites and the Canaanites: and they went out to the South of Judah at Beer-sheba.

⁸ So after going through all the land in every direction, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

⁹ And Joab gave the king the number of all the people: there were in Israel eight hundred thousand fighting men able to take up arms; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand.

¹⁰ And after the people had been numbered, David's heart was troubled. And David said to the Lord, Great has been my sin in doing this; but now, O Lord, be pleased to take away the sin of your servant, for I have done very foolishly

¹¹ And David got up in the morning; now the word of the Lord had come to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

¹² Go and say to David, The Lord says, Three things are offered to you: say which of them you will have, and I will do it to you.

¹³ So Gad came to David, and gave him word of this and said to him, Are there to be three years when there is not enough food in your land? or will you go in flight from your haters for three months, while they go after you? or will you have three days of violent disease in your land? take thought and say what answer I am to give to him who sent me.

¹⁴ And David said to Gad, This is a hard decision for me to make: let us come into the hands of the Lord, for great are his mercies: let me not come into the hands of men.

¹⁵ So David made selection of the disease; and the time was the days of the grain-cutting, when the disease came among the people, causing the death of seventy thousand men from Dan as far as Beer-sheba.

¹⁶ And when the hand of the angel was stretched out in the direction of Jerusalem, for its destruction, the Lord had regret for the evil, and said to the angel who was sending destruction on the people, It is enough; do no more. And the angel of the Lord was by the grain-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

¹⁷ And when David saw the angel who was causing the destruction of the people, he said to the Lord, Truly, the sin is mine; I have done wrong: but these are only sheep; what have they done? let your hand be against me and against my family.

¹⁸ And that day Gad came to David and said to him, Go up, and put up an altar to the Lord on the grain-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

¹⁹ So David went up, as Gad had said and as the Lord had given orders.

²⁰ And Araunah, looking out, saw the king and his servants coming to him: and Araunah went out, and went down on his face to the earth before the king.

²¹ And Araunah said, Why has my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To give you a price for your grain-floor, so that I may put up an altar to the Lord, and the disease may be stopped among the people.

²² And Araunah said to David, Let my lord the king take whatever seems right to him, and make an offering of it: see, here are the oxen for the burned offering, and the grain-cleaning instruments and the ox-yokes for wood:

²³ All this does the servant of my lord the king give to the king. And Araunah said, May the Lord your God be pleased with your offering!

²⁴ And the king said to Araunah, No, but I will give you a price for it; I will not give to the Lord my God burned offerings for which I have given nothing. So David got the grain-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

²⁵ And there David put up an altar to the Lord, making burned offerings and peace-offerings. So the Lord gave ear to his prayer for the land, and the disease came to an end in Israel.