1 Chronicles 21:1-12 ▼

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

2 And Dauid sayde to Ioab and to the rulers of the people: Go ye and number Israel from Beerseba to Dan: & bring it to me, that I may knowe the number of them.

3 And Ioab aunswered: The Lorde make his people an hundred times so many mo as they be: But my lorde, O king, are they not all my lordes seruauntes? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will my lorde be a cause of trespasse to Israel?

4 Neuerthelesse the kinges word preuayled against Ioab: And Ioab departed, and walked throughout all them of Israel, and came to Hierusalem againe,

5 And gaue the summe of the number of the people vnto Dauid: And all they of Israel were a thousande thousand and an hundred thousande men that drue sworde: and Iuda was foure hundred threescore and ten thousande men that drue sworde.

6 But the Leuites and Beniamin counted he not among them: For the kinges word was abhominable to Ioab.

7 And the Lorde was displeased with this thing, and smote Israel.

8 And Dauid sayde vnto God: I haue sinned exceedingly in doyng this thing: And nowe I besech thee, do away the wickednesse of thy seruaunt, for I haue done very foolyshly.

9 And the Lord spake vnto Gad Dauids sear, saying:

10 Go, and tell Dauid, saying, thus sayth the Lord, I geue thee the choyse of three thinges: choose the one of them, that I may do vnto thee.

11 And Gad came to Dauid, and sayd vnto him, thus sayth the Lorde: Choose thee

12 Eyther three yeres famishment, or three monethes to be destroyed before thyne aduersaries, & that the sworde of thyne enemies may ouertake thee: or els the sworde of the Lord and pestilence in the lande three dayes, and the angell of the Lorde destroying throughout all the coastes of Israel: And nowe aduise thy selfe, what worde I shal bring againe to him that sent me.