1 Chronicles 21:1-17 - The Census Of David
1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and persuaded David to number Israel. 2 And David said to Joab and the rulers of the people, "Go ye and number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring it to me that I may know the number of them."
3 And Joab answered, "The LORD make thy people a hundred times so many more as they be. But my lord king, are they not all my lord's servants? Why then doth my lord require this thing? Why should my lord be a cause of trespass to Israel?"
4 Neverthelater, the king's words prevailed against Joab. And Joab took his way and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem 5 and gave the number of the count of the people unto David. And all Israel were in number a thousand, thousand and a hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred and seventy thousand men that drew sword. 6 But the Levites and Benjamin he counted not among them. For the king's deed seemed abominable to Joab. 7 And God was displeased with this thing, and smote Israel.
8 Then said David to God, "I have sinned exceedingly in doing this thing. Nevertheless, yet do away the wickedness of thy servant, for I have done above measure foolishly." 9 And the LORD spake unto Gad, David's seer of visions, saying, 10 "Go and tell David saying, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: I give thee the choice of three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do unto thee.'"
11 And Gad came to David and said to him, "Thus sayeth the LORD: 12 'Choose thee either three years' famishment, or three months to be consumed of thine adversaries, the sword of thine enemies overtaking thee: or else the sword of the LORD three days and pestilence in the land, the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel.' And now advise thyself what word I shall bring again unto him that sent me."
13 And David said to Gad, "I am in an exceeding strait. But let me fall in to the hands of the LORD, for passing great is his mercy, and let me not fall unto the hands of men."
14 And the LORD sent pestilence upon all Israel, so that there were overthrown of Israel seventy thousand men. 15 And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. And as he was about to destroy, the LORD beheld and had compassion on the wretchedness, and said to the angel that destroyed, "It is enough, now cease thine hand." And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
16 And David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and heaven with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out toward Jerusalem. Then fell David and the elders of Israel, clothed in sack, upon their faces. 17 And David said unto God, "Is it not I that commanded to number the people? And I am he that have sinned and done evil in deed. But what have these sheep done? Let thine hand therefore O LORD God be on me and on my father's house, and not on thy people to destroy them."