1 The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" was|strong="H3068" angry|strong="H2734" with|strong="H3068" Israel|strong="H3478" again|strong="H3254". He|strong="H3068" caused David|strong="H1732" to|strong="H0559" turn against|strong="H2734" the|strong="H0853" Israelites|strong="H3478". He|strong="H3068" told|strong="H0559" David|strong="H1732", “Go count|strong="H4487" the|strong="H0853" people of|strong="H3068" Israel|strong="H3478" and|strong="H3068" Judah|strong="H3063".”
2 King|strong="H4428" David said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Joab|strong="H3097", the|strong="H3605" captain|strong="H8269" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" army|strong="H2428", “Go|strong="H4994" through|strong="H3605" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" tribes|strong="H7626" of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478" from|strong="H3478" Dan|strong="H1835" to|strong="H0413" Beersheba|strong="H0884", and|strong="H3478" count|strong="H4557" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971". Then|strong="H0853" I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" know|strong="H3045" how|strong="H0834" many|strong="H4557" people|strong="H5971" there|strong="H3605" are|strong="H0834".”
3 But|strong="H7200" Joab|strong="H3097" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428", “May|strong="H0430" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430" give|strong="H3254" you|strong="H4100" 100 times|strong="H6471" as|strong="H1697" many|strong="H4100" people|strong="H5971", no matter|strong="H1697" how|strong="H4100" many|strong="H4100" there|strong="H2088" are|strong="H1992"! And|strong="H3068" may|strong="H0430" your|strong="H3068" eyes|strong="H5869" see|strong="H7200" this|strong="H2088" thing|strong="H1697" happen|strong="H1697". But|strong="H7200" why|strong="H4100" do|strong="H4100" you|strong="H4100" want|strong="H2654" to|strong="H0413" do|strong="H4100" this|strong="H2088"?”
4 King|strong="H4428" David strongly|strong="H2388" commanded Joab|strong="H3097" and|strong="H3478" the|strong="H0853" other captains|strong="H8269" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" army|strong="H2428" to|strong="H0413" count the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971". So|strong="H3318" they|strong="H5921" went|strong="H3318" out|strong="H3318" from|strong="H3318" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" to|strong="H0413" count the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478".
5 After|strong="H0413" they|strong="H0834" crossed|strong="H5674" over|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" Jordan|strong="H3383" River|strong="H5158", they|strong="H0834" made|strong="H0834" their|strong="H8432" camp|strong="H2583" in|strong="H0413" Aroer|strong="H6177" on|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" right|strong="H3225" side|strong="H3225" of|strong="H8432" the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892". (The|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892" is|strong="H0834" in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" middle|strong="H8432" of|strong="H8432" the|strong="H0853" valley|strong="H5158" of|strong="H8432" Gad|strong="H1410", on|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" way to|strong="H0413" Jazer|strong="H3270".)
6 Then|strong="H0935" they|strong="H0935" went|strong="H0935" east to|strong="H0413" Gilead|strong="H1568", all|strong="H5439" the|strong="H0413" way to|strong="H0413" Tahtim Hodshi. Then|strong="H0935" they|strong="H0935" went|strong="H0935" north to|strong="H0413" Dan Jaan and|strong="H0935" around|strong="H5439" to|strong="H0413" Sidon|strong="H6721".
7 They|strong="H0935" went|strong="H3318" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" fort of|strong="H3605" Tyre|strong="H6865". They|strong="H0935" went|strong="H3318" to|strong="H0413" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" cities|strong="H5892" of|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Hivites|strong="H2340" and|strong="H0935" of|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Canaanites|strong="H3669". Then|strong="H3318" they|strong="H0935" went|strong="H3318" south|strong="H5045" to|strong="H0413" Beersheba|strong="H0884" in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" southern|strong="H5045" part of|strong="H3605" Judah|strong="H3063".
8 It|strong="H3605" took|strong="H0935" them|strong="H0935" nine|strong="H8672" months|strong="H2320" and|strong="H0935" 20 days|strong="H3117" for|strong="H0776" them|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" go|strong="H0935" through|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" country|strong="H0776". After|strong="H3117" nine|strong="H8672" months|strong="H2320" and|strong="H0935" 20 days|strong="H3117" they|strong="H3117" came|strong="H0935" back|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
9 Joab|strong="H3097" gave|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0853" list|strong="H4557" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428". There|strong="H1961" were|strong="H1961" 800,000 men|strong="H0376" in|strong="H0413" Israel|strong="H3478" who|strong="H0376" could|strong="H0376" use|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" sword|strong="H2719". And|strong="H3063" there|strong="H1961" were|strong="H1961" 500,000 men|strong="H0376" in|strong="H0413" Judah|strong="H3063".
10 David|strong="H1732" felt|strong="H5608" ashamed after|strong="H0310" he|strong="H0834" had|strong="H3068" counted|strong="H5608" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" and|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068", “I|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" sinned|strong="H2398" greatly|strong="H3966" in|strong="H0413" what|strong="H0834" I|strong="H0834" did|strong="H6213"! LORD|strong="H3068", I|strong="H0834" beg|strong="H4994" you|strong="H0834", forgive me|strong="H0413" for|strong="H3588" my|strong="H3068" sin|strong="H2398". I|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" been|strong="H6258" very|strong="H3966" foolish|strong="H5528".”
11 When|strong="H1961" David|strong="H1732" got|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965" in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" morning|strong="H1242", the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" gave|strong="H0559" this|strong="H1697" message|strong="H1697" to|strong="H0413" Gad|strong="H1410", David’s|strong="H1732" seer|strong="H2374":
12 “Go|strong="H1980" and|strong="H1980" tell|strong="H0559" David|strong="H1732", ‘This|strong="H3541" is|strong="H3068" what|strong="H3541" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" says|strong="H0559": There|strong="H1992" are|strong="H1992" three|strong="H7969" ways you|strong="H5921" can|strong="H6213" be|strong="H3068" punished. Choose|strong="H0977" the|strong="H0559" one|strong="H0259" you|strong="H5921" want.’”
13 So|strong="H7971" Gad|strong="H1410" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" David|strong="H1732" and|strong="H0935" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413", “Choose one|strong="H1931" of|strong="H0776" these|strong="H1931" three|strong="H7969": seven|strong="H7651" years|strong="H8141" of|strong="H0776" famine|strong="H7458" for|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0518" and|strong="H0935" your|strong="H7200" country|strong="H0776", being|strong="H1961" chased|strong="H7291" by|strong="H0413" your|strong="H7200" enemies for|strong="H0413" three|strong="H7969" months|strong="H2320", or|strong="H0518" three|strong="H7969" days|strong="H3117" of|strong="H0776" disease|strong="H1697" in|strong="H8141" your|strong="H7200" country|strong="H0776". Think|strong="H7200" about|strong="H1961" it|strong="H1931", and|strong="H0935" decide|strong="H7200" which|strong="H1931" one|strong="H1931" you|strong="H0518" want. I|strong="H0518" must|strong="H0518" give|strong="H7725" your|strong="H7200" answer|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" one|strong="H1931" who|strong="H1931" sent|strong="H7971" me|strong="H0413".”
14 David|strong="H1732" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Gad|strong="H1410", “This|strong="H3588" is|strong="H3068" a|strong="H3588" terrible situation to|strong="H0413" be|strong="H0408" in|strong="H0413". But|strong="H3588" it|strong="H3588" would|strong="H3068" be|strong="H0408" better|strong="H3027" to|strong="H0413" be|strong="H0408" punished by|strong="H3027" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" than|strong="H7227" by|strong="H3027" anyone|strong="H0120" else|strong="H3027", because|strong="H3588" he|strong="H3588" is|strong="H3068" very|strong="H3966" merciful.”
15 So|strong="H4480" the|strong="H5414" LORD|strong="H3068" sent|strong="H5414" a|strong="H5414" disease against|strong="H4480" Israel|strong="H3478". It|strong="H5414" began in|strong="H3068" the|strong="H5414" morning|strong="H1242" and|strong="H3068" continued until|strong="H5704" the|strong="H5414" chosen time|strong="H6256" to|strong="H5704" stop. From|strong="H4480" Dan|strong="H1835" to|strong="H5704" Beersheba|strong="H0884" 70,000 people|strong="H5971" died|strong="H4191".
16 The|strong="H0559" angel|strong="H4397" raised his|strong="H3068" arm|strong="H3027" over|strong="H0413" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" and|strong="H3068" was|strong="H1961" ready|strong="H6258" to|strong="H0413" destroy|strong="H7843" it|strong="H1961", but|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" felt very|strong="H7227" sorry|strong="H5162" about|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0559" bad|strong="H7451" things|strong="H5973" that|strong="H3068" had|strong="H3068" happened|strong="H1961". He|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" angel|strong="H4397" who|strong="H3068" destroyed|strong="H7843" the|strong="H0559" people|strong="H5971", “That’s enough|strong="H7227"! Put|strong="H7971" down|strong="H7971" your|strong="H3068" arm|strong="H3027".” The|strong="H0559" LORD’S|strong="H3068" angel|strong="H4397" was|strong="H1961" by|strong="H3027" the|strong="H0559" threshing|strong="H1637" floor|strong="H1637" of|strong="H3068" Araunah|strong="H0728" the|strong="H0559" Jebusite|strong="H2983".
17 When|strong="H1961" he|strong="H6213" saw|strong="H7200" the|strong="H0853" angel|strong="H4397" who|strong="H3068" killed|strong="H5221" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971", David|strong="H1732" spoke|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068". David|strong="H1732" said|strong="H0559", “I|strong="H0595" sinned|strong="H2398"! I|strong="H0595" did|strong="H6213" wrong|strong="H2398"! And|strong="H3068" these|strong="H0428" people|strong="H5971" only did|strong="H6213" what|strong="H4100" I|strong="H0595" told|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0413"—they|strong="H3068" only followed me|strong="H0413" like|strong="H1961" sheep|strong="H6629". They|strong="H3068" did|strong="H6213" nothing wrong|strong="H2398". Please|strong="H4994" let|strong="H4994" your|strong="H3068" punishment|strong="H3027" be|strong="H1961" against|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413" and|strong="H3068" my|strong="H3068" father’s|strong="H0001" family|strong="H1004".”
18 That|strong="H3117" day|strong="H3117" Gad|strong="H1410" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" David|strong="H1732" and|strong="H0935" said|strong="H0559", “Go|strong="H0935" and|strong="H0935" build|strong="H6965" an|strong="H0935" altar|strong="H4196" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" on|strong="H3117" the|strong="H0559" threshing|strong="H1637" floor|strong="H1637" of|strong="H3068" Araunah|strong="H0728" the|strong="H0559" Jebusite|strong="H2983".”
19 So|strong="H5927" David|strong="H1732" did|strong="H0834" what|strong="H0834" Gad|strong="H1410" told|strong="H6680" him|strong="H6680" to|strong="H3068". David|strong="H1732" did|strong="H0834" what|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0834" LORD|strong="H3068" wanted and|strong="H3068" went|strong="H5927" to|strong="H3068" see|strong="H0834" Araunah.
20 Araunah|strong="H0728" looked|strong="H7200" and|strong="H0776" saw|strong="H7200" King|strong="H4428" David and|strong="H0776" his|strong="H5921" officers|strong="H5650" coming|strong="H3318" to|strong="H5921" him|strong="H5921". Araunah|strong="H0728" went|strong="H3318" out|strong="H3318" and|strong="H0776" bowed|strong="H7812" his|strong="H5921" face|strong="H0639" to|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" ground|strong="H0776".
21 He|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559", “Why|strong="H4069" has|strong="H3068" my|strong="H3068" lord|strong="H3068" and|strong="H0935" king|strong="H4428" come|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413"?”
22 Araunah|strong="H0728" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" David|strong="H1732", “My|strong="H7200" lord|strong="H0113" and|strong="H4428" king|strong="H4428", you|strong="H7200" can|strong="H7200" take|strong="H3947" anything|strong="H3627" you|strong="H7200" want for|strong="H0413" a|strong="H3947" sacrifice. Here are|strong="H5869" some oxen|strong="H1241" for|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" burnt|strong="H5930" offering|strong="H5927", and|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0559" threshing|strong="H4173" boards and|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0559" yokes|strong="H3627" for|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" wood|strong="H6086".
23 O|strong="H3068" King|strong="H4428", I|strong="H5414" give|strong="H5414" everything|strong="H3605" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H5414"!” Araunah|strong="H0728" also|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428", “May|strong="H0430" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430" be|strong="H3068" pleased|strong="H7521" with|strong="H0413" you|strong="H5414".”
24 But|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Araunah|strong="H0728", “No|strong="H3808"! I|strong="H3588" must|strong="H0853" pay|strong="H3701" you|strong="H3588" for|strong="H3588" everything. I|strong="H3588" will|strong="H3068" not|strong="H3808" offer|strong="H5927" burnt|strong="H5930" offerings|strong="H3068" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" my|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430" that|strong="H3588" cost|strong="H4242" me|strong="H0413" nothing|strong="H3808".”
25 Then|strong="H5927" David|strong="H1732" built|strong="H1129" an|strong="H1129" altar|strong="H4196" to|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" LORD|strong="H3068" there|strong="H8033" and|strong="H3068" offered|strong="H5927" burnt|strong="H5930" offerings|strong="H8002" and|strong="H3068" peace|strong="H8002" offerings|strong="H8002".