1 Chronicles 21

¹And Satan stoode vp against Israel, and prouoked Dauid to nomber Israel.

²Therefore Dauid said to Ioab, and to the rulers of the people, Go, and nomber Israel from Beer-sheba euen to Dan, and bring it to me, that I may knowe the nomber of them.

³And Ioab answered, The Lord increase his people an hundreth times so many as they be, O my lord the King: are they not all my lords seruats? wherefore doeth my lord require this thing? why should he be a cause of trespasse to Israel?

⁴Neuerthelesse the Kings word preuailed against Ioab. And Ioab departed and went thorowe all Israel, and returned to Ierusalem.

⁵And Ioab gaue the nomber and summe of the people vnto Dauid: and all Israel were eleuen hundreth thousande men that drewe sword: and Iudah was foure hundreth and seuentie thousande men that drewe sword.

⁶But the Leuites and Beniamin counted he not among them: for the Kings worde was abominable to Ioab.

⁷And God was displeased with this thing: therefore he smote Israel.

⁸Then Dauid saide vnto God, I haue sinned greatly, because I haue done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, remooue the iniquitie of thy seruant: for I haue done very foolishly.

⁹And the Lord spake vnto Gad Dauids Seer, saying,

¹⁰Goe and tell Dauid, saying, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three thinges: choose thee one of them, that I may doe it vnto thee.

¹¹So Gad came to Dauid, and sayde vnto him, Thus saith the Lord, Take to thee