2 Samuel 24
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.
