Chapter 24

And again⁵⁵ the anger of the LORD was kindled² against Israel, and he moved⁵⁵ David against them to say,² Go,³ number³ Israel and Judah.

For the king said⁴ to Joab the captain of the host, which [was] with him, Go now through³ all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number³ ye the people, that I may know¹ the number of the people.

And Joab said⁴ unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add⁵⁵ unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, ⁶⁴⁷¹ and that the eyes of my lord the king may see⁶ [it]: but why doth my lord the king delight¹ in this thing?

Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed⁴ against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out⁴ from the presence of the king, to number² the people of Israel.

And they passed over⁴ Jordan, and pitched⁴ in Aroer, on the right side of the city that [lieth] in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:

Then they came⁴ to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came⁴ to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,

And came⁴ to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out⁴ to the south of Judah, [even] to Beersheba.

So when they had gone⁴ through all the land, they came⁴ to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

And Joab gave up⁴ the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew⁶ the sword; and the men of Judah [were] five hundred thousand men.

And David's heart smote⁵⁵ him after that he had numbered¹ the people. And David said⁴ unto the LORD, I have sinned¹ greatly in that I have done:¹ and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away⁵⁴ the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.⁸

For when David was up⁴ in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,²

Go² and say¹⁴ unto David, Thus saith¹ the LORD, I offer⁶ thee three [things]; choose³ thee one of them, that I may⁴ [do it] unto thee.

So Gad came⁴ to David, and told⁵⁵ him, and said⁴ unto him, Shall seven years of famine come⁴ unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee² three months before thine enemies, while they pursue⁶ thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise,³ and see³ what answer I shall return⁵⁵ to him that sent⁶ me.

And David said⁴ unto Gad, I am in a great strait:¹ let us fall⁴ now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies [are] great: and let me not fall⁴ into the hand of man.

So the LORD sent⁴ a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died⁴ of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.

And when the angel stretched out⁴ his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy¹⁵ it, the LORD repented¹¹ him of the evil, and said⁴ to the angel that destroyed⁵⁶ the people, It is enough: stay⁵⁴ now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.

And David spake⁴ unto the LORD when he saw² the angel that smote⁵⁶ the people, and said,⁴ Lo, I have sinned,¹ and I have done wickedly:⁵² but these sheep, what have they done?¹ let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.

And Gad came⁴ that day to David, and said⁴ unto him, Go up,³ rear⁵⁴ an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.

And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up⁴ as the LORD commanded.¹⁴

And Araunah looked,⁵⁵ and saw⁴ the king and his servants coming on⁶ toward him: and Araunah went out,⁴ and bowed¹⁰¹ himself before the king on his face upon the ground.

And Araunah said,⁴ Wherefore is my lord the king come¹ to his servant? And David said,⁴ To buy² the threshingfloor of thee, to build² an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed¹¹ from the people.

And Araunah said⁴ unto David, Let my lord the king take⁴ and offer up⁵⁵ what [seemeth] good unto him: behold,³ [here be] oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and [other] instruments of the oxen for wood.

All these [things] did Araunah, [as] a king, give¹ unto the king. And Araunah said⁴ unto the king, The LORD thy God accept⁴ thee.

And the king said⁴ unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely² buy⁴ [it] of thee at a price: neither will I offer⁵⁵ burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought⁴ the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

And David built⁴ there an altar unto the LORD, and offered⁵⁵ burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated¹¹ for the land, and the plague was stayed¹¹ from Israel.