1 Chronicles 21:1-13 ▼

1 An adversary opposed Israel, inciting David to count how many warriors Israel had.

2 David told Joab and the leaders of the army, |Go, count the number of warriors from Beer Sheba to Dan. Then bring back a report to me so I may know how many we have.|

3 Joab replied, |May the LORD make his army a hundred times larger! My master, O king, do not all of them serve my master? Why does my master want to do this? Why bring judgment on Israel?|

4 But the king's edict stood, despite Joab's objections. So Joab left and traveled throughout Israel before returning to Jerusalem.

5 Joab reported to David the number of warriors. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 sword-wielding soldiers; Judah alone had 470,000 sword-wielding soldiers.

6 Now Joab did not number Levi and Benjamin, for the king's edict disgusted him.

7 God was also offended by it, so he attacked Israel.

8 David said to God, |I have sinned greatly by doing this! Now, please remove the guilt of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.|

9 The LORD told Gad, David's prophet,

10 Go, tell David, 'This is what the LORD says: |I am offering you three forms of judgment from which to choose. Pick one of them.|'|

11 Gad went to David and told him, |This is what the LORD says: 'Pick one of these:

12 three years of famine, or three months being chased by your enemies and struck down by their swords, or three days being struck down by the LORD, during which a plague will invade the land and the LORD's messenger will destroy throughout Israel's territory.' Now, decide what I should tell the one who sent me.|

13 David said to Gad, |I am very upset! I prefer to be attacked by the LORD, for his mercy is very great; I do not want to be attacked by men!|