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

1  וַיֹּ֙סֶף֙ (Added) אַף־ (the anger) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) לַחֲר֖וֹת (to be hot) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (against Israel), וַיָּ֨סֶת (and He moved) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֤ד (David) בָּהֶם֙ (against them) לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), לֵ֛ךְ (Go), מְנֵ֥ה (number) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) וְאֶת־ (and) יְהוּדָֽה׃ (Judah).

2  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king) אֶל־ (to) יוֹאָ֣ב׀ (Joab) שַׂר־ (the commander) הַחַ֣יִל (of the army), אֲשֶׁר־ (who was) אִתּ֗וֹ (with him), שֽׁוּט־ (Go) נָ֞א (now) בְּכָל־ (throughout all) שִׁבְטֵ֤י (the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel), מִדָּן֙ (from Dan) וְעַד־ (and to) בְּאֵ֣ר (Beer-) שֶׁ֔בַע (sheba), וּפִקְד֖וּ (and count) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֑ם (the people), וְיָ֣דַעְתִּ֔י (that I may know) אֵ֖ת (-) מִסְפַּ֥ר (the number) הָעָֽם׃ס (of the people).

3  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יוֹאָ֜ב (Joab) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (the king), וְיוֹסֵ֣ף (And may add) יְהוָה֩ (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ (your God) אֶל־ (to) הָעָ֜ם (the people), כָּהֵ֤ם׀ (as they were) וְכָהֵם֙ (and as they are) מֵאָ֣ה (a hundred) פְעָמִ֔ים (times), וְעֵינֵ֥י (and the eyes) אֲדֹנִֽי־ (of my lord) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) רֹא֑וֹת (may see it). וַאדֹנִ֣י (And my lord) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), לָ֥מָּה (why) חָפֵ֖ץ (does delight) בַּדָּבָ֥ר (thing) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this)?

4  וַיֶּחֱזַ֤ק (And prevailed) דְּבַר־ (the word) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (of the king) אֶל־ (against) יוֹאָ֔ב (Joab) וְעַ֖ל (and against) שָׂרֵ֣י (the captains) הֶחָ֑יִל (of the army). וַיֵּצֵ֨א (And went out) יוֹאָ֜ב (Joab) וְשָׂרֵ֤י (and the captains) הַחַ֙יִל֙ (of the army) לִפְנֵ֣י (from the presence) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king) לִפְקֹ֥ד (to count) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֖ם (the people) אֶת־ (of) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel).

5  וַיַּעַבְר֖וּ (And they passed over) אֶת־ (-) הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן (the Jordan) וַיַּחֲנ֣וּ (and camped) בַעֲרוֹעֵ֗ר (in Aroer), יְמִ֥ין (on the right side) הָעִ֛יר (of the city) אֲשֶׁ֛ר (which is) בְּתוֹךְ־ (in the midst) הַנַּ֥חַל (of the valley), הַגָּ֖ד (toward Gad) וְאֶל־ (and to) יַעְזֵֽר׃ (Jazer). 6  וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ (And they came) הַגִּלְעָ֔דָה (to Gilead) וְאֶל־ (and to) אֶ֥רֶץ (the land) תַּחְתִּ֖ים (of Tahtim-) חָדְשִׁ֑י (hodshi), וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ (and they came) דָּ֣נָה (-) יַּ֔עַן (to Dan-jaan) וְסָבִ֖יב (and around) אֶל־ (to) צִידֽוֹן׃ (Sidon), 7  וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ (and they came) מִבְצַר־ (to the stronghold) צֹ֔ר (of Tyre), וְכָל־ (and to all) עָרֵ֥י (the cities) הַחִוִּ֖י (of the Hivite) וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֑י (and the Canaanite), וַיֵּֽצְא֛וּ (and they went out) אֶל־ (to) נֶ֥גֶב (the Negev) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah), בְּאֵ֥ר (to Beer-) שָֽׁבַע׃ (sheba).

8  וַיָּשֻׁ֖טוּ (And they had gone) בְּכָל־ (through all) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land), וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ (and they came) מִקְצֵ֨ה (at the end) תִשְׁעָ֧ה (of nine) חֳדָשִׁ֛ים (months) וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים (and twenty) י֖וֹם (days) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (to Jerusalem). 9  וַיִּתֵּ֥ן (And gave) יוֹאָ֛ב (Joab) אֶת־ (-) מִסְפַּ֥ר (the sum) מִפְקַד־ (of the number) הָעָ֖ם (of the people) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king). וַתְּהִ֣י (And there were) יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל (in Israel) שְׁמֹנֶה֩ (eight) מֵא֨וֹת (hundred) אֶ֤לֶף (thousand) אִֽישׁ־ (men) חַ֙יִל֙ (valiant) שֹׁ֣לֵֽף (who drew) חֶ֔רֶב (the sword), וְאִ֣ישׁ (and the men) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah were) חֲמֵשׁ־ (five) מֵא֥וֹת (hundred) אֶ֖לֶף (thousand) אִֽישׁ׃ (men).

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

10  וַיַּ֤ךְ (And condemned) לֵב־ (the heart) דָּוִד֙ (of David) אֹת֔וֹ (him) אַחֲרֵי־ (after) כֵ֖ן (that) סָפַ֣ר (he had numbered) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֑םס (the people). וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֜ד (David) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH), חָטָ֤אתִי (I have sinned) מְאֹד֙ (greatly) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (in what) עָשִׂ֔יתִי (I have done). וְעַתָּ֣ה (And), יְהוָ֔ה (O YHWH), הַֽעֲבֶר־ (cause to pass) נָא֙ (please), אֶת־ (-) עֲוֺ֣ן (the iniquity) עַבְדְּךָ֔ (of Your servant). כִּ֥י (For) נִסְכַּ֖לְתִּי (I have acted foolishly) מְאֹֽד׃ (very).

11  וַיָּ֥קָם (And arose) דָּוִ֖ד (David) בַּבֹּ֑קֶר פ (in the morning), וּדְבַר־ (and the word) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH) הָיָה֙ (came) אֶל־ (to) גָּ֣ד (Gad) הַנָּבִ֔יא (the prophet), חֹזֵ֥ה (seer) דָוִ֖ד (of David), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 12  הָל֞וֹךְ (Go) וְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ (and tell) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֗ד (David), כֹּ֚ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH): שָׁלֹ֕שׁ (Three things) אָנֹכִ֖י (I) נוֹטֵ֣ל (offer) עָלֶ֑יךָ (you). בְּחַר־ (Choose) לְךָ֥ (for yourself) אַֽחַת־ (one) מֵהֶ֖ם (of them), וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־ (that I may do it) לָּֽךְ׃ (to you).

13  וַיָּבֹא־ (And came) גָ֥ד (Gad) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֖ד (David) וַיַּגֶּד־ (and told) ל֑וֹ (him), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and he said) ל֡וֹ (to him), הֲתָב֣וֹא (Shall come) לְךָ֣ (to you) שֶֽׁבַע (seven) שָׁנִ֣ים׀ (years) רָעָ֣ב׀ (of famine) בְּאַרְצֶ֡ךָ (in your land), אִם־ (or) שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה (three) חֳ֠דָשִׁים (months) נֻסְךָ֨ (shall you flee) לִפְנֵֽי־ (before) צָרֶ֜יךָ (your enemy) וְה֣וּא (and he) רֹדְפֶ֗ךָ (pursues you), וְאִם־ (or) הֱ֠יוֹת (shall there be) שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת (three) יָמִ֥ים (days) דֶּ֙בֶר֙ (plague) בְּאַרְצֶ֔ךָ (in your land)? עַתָּה֙ (Now) דַּ֣ע (consider) וּרְאֵ֔ה (and see) מָה־ (what) אָשִׁ֥יב (I should take back) שֹׁלְחִ֖י (to Him who sent me) דָּבָֽר׃ס (word).

14  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֛ד (David) אֶל־ (to) גָּ֖ד (Gad), צַר־ (In distress) לִ֣י (I am) מְאֹ֑ד (great). נִפְּלָה־ (Let us fall) נָּ֤א (please) בְיַד־ (into the hand) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH), כִּֽי־ (for) רַבִּ֣ים (great) רַחֲמוֹ (are His mercies). וּבְיַד־ (And into the hand) אָדָ֖ם (of man) אַל־ (not) אֶפֹּֽלָה׃ (do let me fall).

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

15  וַיִּתֵּ֨ן (And sent) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) דֶּ֙בֶר֙ (a plague) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (upon Israel) מֵהַבֹּ֖קֶר (from the morning) וְעַד־ (and until) עֵ֣ת (the time) מוֹעֵ֑ד (appointed), וַיָּ֣מָת (and died) מִן־ (of) הָעָ֗ם (the people) מִדָּן֙ (from Dan) וְעַד־ (and to) בְּאֵ֣ר (Beer-) שֶׁ֔בַע (sheba) שִׁבְעִ֥ים (seventy) אֶ֖לֶף (thousand) אִֽישׁ׃ (men).

16  וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ (And stretched out) יָד֨וֹ (His hand) הַמַּלְאָ֥ךְ׀ (the angel) יְרֽוּשָׁלִַם֮ (over Jerusalem) לְשַׁחֲתָהּ֒ (to destroy it), וַיִּנָּ֤חֶם (and relented) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶל־ (from) הָ֣רָעָ֔ה (the destruction), וַ֠יֹּאמֶר (and He said) לַמַּלְאָ֞ךְ (to the angel) הַמַּשְׁחִ֤ית (who was destroying) בָּעָם֙ (the people), רַ֔ב (Enough)! עַתָּ֖ה (Now) הֶ֣רֶף (restrain) יָדֶ֑ךָ (your hand)! וּמַלְאַ֤ךְ (And the angel) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) הָיָ֔ה (was) עִם־ (by) גֹּ֖רֶן (the threshing floor) הָאוֹרְנָה (of Araunah) הַיְבֻסִֽי׃ס (the Jebusite).

17  וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (And spoke) דָּוִ֨ד (David) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) בִּרְאֹת֣וֹ׀ (when he saw) אֶֽת־ (-) הַמַּלְאָ֣ךְ׀ (the angel) הַמַּכֶּ֣ה (who was striking) בָעָ֗ם (the people), וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and he said), הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold), אָנֹכִ֤י (I) חָטָ֙אתִי֙ (have sinned), וְאָנֹכִ֣י (and I) הֶעֱוֵ֔יתִי (have acted wickedly). וְאֵ֥לֶּה (And these) הַצֹּ֖אן (sheep), מֶ֣ה (what) עָשׂ֑וּ (have they done)? תְּהִ֨י (Be) נָ֥א (please) יָדְךָ֛ (Your hand) בִּ֖י (against me) וּבְבֵ֥ית (and against the house) אָבִֽי׃פ (of my father).

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

18  וַיָּבֹא־ (And came) גָ֥ד (Gad) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֖ד (David) בַּיּ֣וֹם (day) הַה֑וּא (that) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) ל֗וֹ (to him) עֲלֵה֙ (Go up), הָקֵ֤ם (raise) לַֽיהוָה֙ (to YHWH) מִזְבֵּ֔חַ (an altar) בְּגֹ֖רֶן (on the threshing floor) אָרָנְיָה (Araunah) הַיְבֻסִֽי׃ (the Jebusite). 19  וַיַּ֤עַל (And went up) דָּוִד֙ (David) כִּדְבַר־ (according to the word) גָּ֔ד (of Gad), כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר (as) צִוָּ֥ה (had commanded) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

20  וַיַּשְׁקֵ֣ף (And looked) אֲרַ֗וְנָה (Araunah) וַיַּ֤רְא (and saw) אֶת־ (-) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) וְאֶת־ (and) עֲבָדָ֔יו (his servants) עֹבְרִ֖ים (coming) עָלָ֑יו (toward him). וַיֵּצֵ֣א (And went out) אֲרַ֔וְנָה (Araunah) וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ (and bowed low) לַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (before the king) אַפָּ֖יו (with his nose) אָֽרְצָה׃ (to the ground). 21  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) אֲרַ֔וְנָה (Araunah), מַדּ֛וּעַ (Why) בָּ֥א (has come) אֲדֹנִֽי־ (my lord) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) אֶל־ (to) עַבְדּ֑וֹ (his servant)?

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֜ד (David), לִקְנ֧וֹת (To buy) מֵעִמְּךָ֣ (from you) אֶת־ (-) הַגֹּ֗רֶן (the threshing floor) לִבְנ֤וֹת (to build) מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ (an altar) לַֽיהוָ֔ה (to YHWH), וְתֵעָצַ֥ר (that may be restrained) הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה (the plague) מֵעַ֥ל (from) הָעָֽם׃ (the people).

22  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֲרַ֙וְנָה֙ (Araunah) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֔ד (David), יִקַּ֥ח (Let take) וְיַ֛עַל (and offer up) אֲדֹנִ֥י (my lord) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) הַטּ֣וֹב (whatever is good) בְּעֵינוֹ (in his eyes). רְאֵה֙ (See) הַבָּקָ֣ר (the oxen) לָעֹלָ֔ה (for the burnt offering), וְהַמֹּרִגִּ֛ים (and the threshing instruments), וּכְלֵ֥י (and the yokes) הַבָּקָ֖ר (of the oxen) לָעֵצִֽים׃ (for the wood). 23  הַכֹּ֗ל (All these) נָתַ֛ן (has given) אֲרַ֥וְנָה (Araunah), הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (O king), לַמֶּ֑לֶךְס (to the king). וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֲרַ֙וְנָה֙ (Araunah) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (your God) יִרְצֶֽךָ׃ (may accept you).

24  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king) אֶל־ (to) אֲרַ֗וְנָה (Araunah), לֹ֚א (No), כִּֽי־ (but) קָנ֨וֹ (buying) אֶקְנֶ֤ה (I shall buy it) מֵאֽוֹתְךָ֙ (from you) בִּמְחִ֔יר (for a price), וְלֹ֧א (and not) אַעֲלֶ֛ה (will I offer) לַיהוָ֥ה (to YHWH) אֱלֹהַ֖י (my God) עֹל֣וֹת (burnt offerings) חִנָּ֑ם (for nothing).

וַיִּ֨קֶן (And bought) דָּוִ֤ד (David) אֶת־ (-) הַגֹּ֙רֶן֙ (the threshing floor) וְאֶת־ (and) הַבָּקָ֔ר (the oxen) בְּכֶ֖סֶף (for silver) שְׁקָלִ֥ים (shekels) חֲמִשִּֽׁים׃ (of fifty). 25  וַיִּבֶן֩ (And built) שָׁ֨ם (there) דָּוִ֤ד (David) מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ (an altar) לַֽיהוָ֔ה (to YHWH), וַיַּ֥עַל (and he offered up) עֹל֖וֹת (burnt offerings) וּשְׁלָמִ֑ים (and peace offerings).

וַיֵּעָתֵ֤ר (And heeded the prayers) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) לָאָ֔רֶץ (for the land), וַתֵּעָצַ֥ר (and was withdrawn) הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה (the plague) מֵעַ֥ל (from) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel).