David’s Military Census
(Exodus 30:11–16; 1 Chronicles 21:1–6)

1Again the anger of the LORD {YHWH} burned against Israel (he wrestles with God), and He stirred up David (beloved) against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah (praised).”

2So the king said to Joab (YHWH is father) the commander of his army, who was with him [to Joab and the army commanders with him],a “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God) from Dan (He has judged) to Beersheba (well of seven) and register the troops, so that I may know their number.”

3But Joab (YHWH is father) replied to the king, “May the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka} multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”

4Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab (YHWH is father) and against the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army departed from the presence of the king to register the troops of Israel (he wrestles with God).

5They crossed the Jordan (flowing down) and camped near Aroer (ruins), south of the town in the middle of the valley, and proceeded toward Gad (troop) and Jazer (helped). 6Then they went to Gilead (rocky region) and the land of Tahtim-hodshi (lowest-moon),b and on to Dan-jaan (purposeful judgment) and around to Sidon (hunting). 7They went toward the fortress of Tyre (a rock) and all the cities of the Hivites (villagers) and Canaanites (merchants). Finally, they went on to the Negev (southland) of Judah (to the south of Judah),c to Beersheba (well of seven).

8At the end of nine months and twenty days, having gone through the whole land, they returned to Jerusalem (city of peace). 9And Joab (YHWH is father) reported to the king the total number of the troops. In Israel (he wrestles with God) there were 800,000 men of valor who drew the sword, and in Judah (praised) there were 500,000.

Judgment for David’s Sin
(1 Chronicles 21:7–13)

10After David had numbered the troops, his (beloved) conscience was stricken and he said to the LORD {YHWH}, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

11When David (beloved) got up in the morning, the word of the LORD {YHWH} had come to Gad (troop) the prophet, David’s seer: 12“Go and tell David (beloved) that this is what the LORD {YHWH} says: ‘I am offering you three options. Choose one of them, and I will carry it out against you.’”

13So Gad (troop) went and said to David (beloved), “Do you choose to endure three [seven]d years of famine in your land, three months of fleeing the pursuit of your enemies, or three days of plague upon your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should reply to Him who sent me.”

14David (beloved) answered Gad (troop), “I am deeply distressed. Please, let us fall into the hand of the LORD {YHWH}, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”

A Plague on Israel
(1 Chronicles 21:14–17)

15So the LORD {YHWH} sent a plague upon Israel (he wrestles with God) from that morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan (He has judged) to Beersheba (well of seven) died \and of the people from Dan to Beersheba, seventy thousand men died/.e

16But when the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem (city of peace), the LORD {YHWH} relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!” At that time the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah (Ornan)f the Jebusite (Jerusalemite).

17When David (beloved) saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD {YHWH}, “Surely I, the shepherd,g have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.”

David Builds an Altar
(1 Chronicles 21:18–30)

18And that day Gad (troop) came to David (beloved) and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD {YHWH} on the threshing floor of Araunah (I will shout for joy) the Jebusite (Jerusalemite).” 19So David (beloved) went up at the word of Gad (troop), just as the LORD {YHWH} had commanded.

20When Araunah (I will shout for joy) looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he went out and bowed facedown before the king. 21“Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” Araunah (I will shout for joy) said.

“To buy your threshing floor,” David (beloved) replied, “that I may build an altar to the LORD {YHWH}, so that the plague upon the people may be halted.”

22Araunah (I will shout for joy) said to David (beloved), “May my lord the king take whatever seems good to him and offer it up. Here are the oxen for a burnt offering and the threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. 23O king, Araunah (I will shout for joy) gives all these to the king.” He also said to the king, “May the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka} accept you.”

24“No,” replied the king, “I insist on paying a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God {YHWH Elohay} burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

So David (beloved) bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver <1.26 lb / 569.8 g>.h 25And (beloved) there he built an altar to the LORD {YHWH} and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

Then the LORD answered the prayers on behalf of the land, and the plague upon Israel (he wrestles with God) was halted.