(KJV) 2 Samuel 24¹

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⥃David’s Military Census ^{[ Exodus 30:11–16 † 1 Chronicles 21:1–6 ]}

[1] And again² the³ anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved⁴ David against them to say, Go, number⁵ Israel and Judah.⁶ [2] For the king said to Joab⁷ the captain of the host, which [was] with him, Go now⁸ through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan⁹ even to Beer–sheba, and number¹⁰ ye the people, that I may¹¹ 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?¹² [4] Notwithstanding the king’s¹³ word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out¹⁴ from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.

[5] [¶]And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer¹⁵, on the right side of the city that [lieth] in the midst of the river¹⁶ of Gad, and toward Jazer¹⁷: [6] Then they came to Gilead¹⁸, and to the land of Tahtim–hodshi¹⁹; and they came to Dan–jaan, and about to Zidon²⁰, [7] And came to the strong hold of Tyre²¹, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, [even] to Beer–sheba²². [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 thousand²³ valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah [were] five hundred thousand men.

⥃Judgment for David’s Sin ^{[ 1 Chronicles 21:7–13 ]}

[10] And David’s heart²⁴ smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the Lord, I have sinned²⁵ greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O Lord, take away²⁶ the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly²⁷. [11] For when David was up in the morning, the word of the Lord came unto the prophet Gad²⁸, David’s seer²⁹, saying, [12] Go and say unto David, Thus saith the Lord, I offer³⁰ thee three [things]; choose thee one of them, that I may³¹ [do it] unto thee. [13] So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven³² years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee³³ three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’³⁴ 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 in³⁵ a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for his³⁶ mercies [are] great³⁷: and let me not³⁸ fall into the hand of man.

⥃A Plague on Israel ^{[ 1 Chronicles 21:14–17 ]}

[15] [¶]So the Lord³⁹ sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan⁴⁰ even to Beer–sheba seventy thousand men⁴¹. [16] And when the angel⁴² stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord repented⁴³ him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough⁴⁴: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord was by the threshingplace of Araunah⁴⁵ the Jebusite⁴⁶. [17] And David spake⁴⁷ unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned⁴⁸, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep⁴⁹, what have they done? let thine⁵⁰ hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.

⥃David Builds an Altar ^{[ 1 Chronicles 21:18–30 ]}

[18] And Gad⁵¹ came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the Lord in the threshingfloor of Araunah⁵² the Jebusite. [19] And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the Lord⁵³ commanded. [20] And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed⁵⁴ himself before the king on his face upon the ground. [21] And Araunah said, Wherefore⁵⁵ is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy⁵⁶ the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the Lord, that the plague⁵⁷ may be stayed from the people. [22] And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord⁵⁸ the king take and offer up what [seemeth] good unto him: behold, [here be] oxen⁵⁹ for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and [other] instruments of the oxen for wood. [23] All these [things] did Araunah, [as] a king⁶⁰, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The Lord⁶¹ thy God accept thee. [24] And the king said unto Araunah, Nay⁶²; 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 David⁶³ bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. [25] And David built there⁶⁴ an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord⁶⁵ was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.