David’s Military Census
(Exodus 30:11–16; 2 Samuel 24:1–9)

1  וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֥ד (And stood up) שָׂטָ֖ן (Satan) עַל־ (against) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel) וַיָּ֙סֶת֙ (and incited) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֔יד (David) לִמְנ֖וֹת (to number) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel). 2  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֤יד (David) אֶל־ (to) יוֹאָב֙ (Joab) וְאֶל־ (and to) שָׂרֵ֣י (the heads) הָעָ֔ם (of the people), לְכ֗וּ (Go), סִפְרוּ֙ (number) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel) מִבְּאֵ֥ר (from Beer-) שֶׁ֖בַע (sheba) וְעַד־ (and as far as) דָּ֑ן (Dan) וְהָבִ֣יאוּ (and bring it) אֵלַ֔י (to me), וְאֵדְעָ֖ה (that I may know) אֶת־ (-) מִסְפָּרָֽם׃ (their number).

3  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And answered) יוֹאָ֗ב (Joab), יוֹסֵף֩ (May add) יְהוָ֨ה (YHWH) עַל־ (to) עַמּ֤וֹ׀ (His people) כָּהֵם֙ (as they are) מֵאָ֣ה (a hundred) פְעָמִ֔ים (times). הֲלֹא֙ (Are they not) אֲדֹנִ֣י (my lord) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (O king) כֻּלָּ֥ם (all of them) לַאדֹנִ֖י (for my lord) לַעֲבָדִ֑ים (as servants)? לָ֣מָּה (Why) יְבַקֵּ֥שׁ (does require) זֹאת֙ (this) אֲדֹנִ֔י (my lord)? לָ֛מָּה (Why) יִהְיֶ֥ה (should he be a cause) לְאַשְׁמָ֖ה (of guilt) לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (in Israel)?

4  וּדְבַר־ (And the word) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king) חָזַ֣ק (was strengthened) עַל־ (against) יוֹאָ֑ב (Joab), וַיֵּצֵ֣א (and went out) יוֹאָ֗ב (Joab) וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ֙ (and went) בְּכָל־ (throughout all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel), וַיָּבֹ֖א (and he came) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (to Jerusalem). 5  וַיִּתֵּ֥ן (And gave) יוֹאָ֛ב (Joab) אֶת־ (-) מִסְפַּ֥ר (the number) מִפְקַד־ (of the number) הָעָ֖ם (of the people) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֑יד (David). וַיְהִ֣י (And) כָֽל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל (Israel had) אֶ֣לֶף (a thousand) אֲלָפִים֩ (thousands) וּמֵאָ֨ה (and a hundred) אֶ֤לֶף (thousand) אִישׁ֙ (men) שֹׁ֣לֵֽף (who drew) חֶ֔רֶב (the sword), וִֽיהוּדָ֕ה (and Judah had) אַרְבַּע֩ (four) מֵא֨וֹת (hundred) וְשִׁבְעִ֥ים (and seventy) אֶ֛לֶף (thousand) אִ֖ישׁ (men) שֹׁ֥לֵֽף (who drew) חָֽרֶב׃ (the sword). 6  וְלֵוִי֙ (And Levi) וּבִנְיָמִ֔ן (and Benjamin) לֹ֥א (not) פָקַ֖ד (he did count) בְּתוֹכָ֑ם (in their midst), כִּֽי־ (for) נִתְעַ֥ב (was abominable) דְּבַר־ (the word) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king) אֶת־ (to) יוֹאָֽב׃ (Joab).

Judgment for David’s Sin
(2 Samuel 24:10–14)

7  וַיֵּ֙רַע֙ (And it was evil) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God) עַל־ (concerning) הַדָּבָ֖ר (the thing) הַזֶּ֑ה (this), וַיַּ֖ךְ (and He struck) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃פ (Israel).

8  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) דָּוִיד֙ (David) אֶל־ (to) הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים (God), חָטָ֣אתִֽי (I have sinned) מְאֹ֔ד (greatly) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (because) עָשִׂ֖יתִי (I have done) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֣ר (the thing) הַזֶּ֑ה (this). וְעַתָּ֗ה (And) הַֽעֲבֶר־ (take away), נָא֙ (please), אֶת־ (-) עֲו֣וֹן (the iniquity) עַבְדְּךָ֔ (of Your servant), כִּ֥י (for) נִסְכַּ֖לְתִּי (I have acted foolishly) מְאֹֽד׃פ (very).

9  וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר (And spoke) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) גָּ֔ד (Gad), חֹזֵ֥ה (seer) דָוִ֖יד (of David) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 10  לֵךְ֩ (Go) וְדִבַּרְתָּ֨ (and declare) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֜יד (David), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), כֹּ֚ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH): שָׁל֕וֹשׁ (Three things) אֲנִ֖י (I) נֹטֶ֣ה (offer) עָלֶ֑יךָ (to you) בְּחַר־ (choose) לְךָ֛ (for yourself) אַחַ֥ת (one) מֵהֵ֖נָּה (of them), וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־ (that I may do it) לָּֽךְ׃ (to you).

11  וַיָּ֥בֹא (And came) גָ֖ד (Gad) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֑יד (David) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (and said) ל֛וֹ (to him), כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֥ר (says) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH): קַבֶּל־ (Choose) לָֽךְ׃ (for yourself) 12  אִם־ (either) שָׁל֨וֹשׁ (three) שָׁנִ֜ים (years) רָעָ֗ב (of famine), וְאִם־ (or) שְׁלֹשָׁ֨ה (three) חֳדָשִׁ֜ים (months) נִסְפֶּ֥ה (of being swept away) מִפְּנֵי־ (before the faces) צָרֶיךָ֮ (of your foes)— וְחֶ֣רֶב (and the sword) אוֹיְבֶ֣ךָ׀ (of your enemies) לְמַשֶּׂגֶת֒ (overtaking you), וְאִם־ (or) שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת (three) יָ֠מִים (days) חֶ֣רֶב (of the sword) יְהוָ֤ה (of YHWH) וְדֶ֙בֶר֙ (and the plague) בָּאָ֔רֶץ (upon the land) וּמַלְאַ֣ךְ (and the angel) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) מַשְׁחִ֖ית (destroying) בְּכָל־ (in all) גְּב֣וּל (the territory) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel). וְעַתָּ֣ה (And) רְאֵ֔ה (consider) מָֽה־ (what) אָשִׁ֥יב (I should take back) אֶת־ (to) שֹׁלְחִ֖י (Him who sent me) דָּבָֽר׃פ (word).

13  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֛יד (David) אֶל־ (to) גָּ֖ד (Gad), צַר־ (There is distress) לִ֣י (to me) מְאֹ֑ד (great). אֶפְּלָה־ (Let me fall) נָּ֣א (please) בְיַד־ (into the hand) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH), כִּֽי־ (for) רַבִּ֤ים (great) רַחֲמָיו֙ (are His mercies) מְאֹ֔ד (very); וּבְיַד־ (and into the hand) אָדָ֖ם (of man) אַל־ (not) אֶפֹּֽל׃ (do let me fall).

A Plague on Israel
(2 Samuel 24:15–17)

14  וַיִּתֵּ֧ן (And sent) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) דֶּ֖בֶר (a plague) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (upon Israel), וַיִּפֹּל֙ (and fell) מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (from Israel) שִׁבְעִ֥ים (seventy) אֶ֖לֶף (thousand) אִֽישׁ׃ (men).

15  וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ (And sent) הָאֱלֹהִ֨ים׀ (God) מַלְאָ֥ךְ׀ (an angel) לִֽירוּשָׁלִַם֮ (to Jerusalem) לְהַשְׁחִיתָהּ֒ (to destroy it), וּכְהַשְׁחִ֗ית (and as he was destroying), רָאָ֤ה (saw) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם (and relented) עַל־ (of) הָֽרָעָ֔ה (the disaster) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (and He said) לַמַּלְאָ֤ךְ (to the angel) הַמַּשְׁחִית֙ (who was destroying), רַ֔ב (Enough) עַתָּ֖ה (now)! הֶ֣רֶף (Restrain) יָדֶ֑ךָ (your hand).

וּמַלְאַ֤ךְ (And the angel) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) עֹמֵ֔ד (stood) עִם־ (by) גֹּ֖רֶן (the threshing floor) אָרְנָ֥ן (of Ornan) הַיְבוּסִֽי׃ס (the Jebusite).

16  וַיִּשָּׂ֨א (And lifted up) דָוִ֜יד (David) אֶת־ (-) עֵינָ֗יו (his eyes) וַיַּ֞רְא (and saw) אֶת־ (-) מַלְאַ֤ךְ (the angel) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) עֹמֵ֗ד (standing) בֵּ֤ין (between) הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (the earth) וּבֵ֣ין (and between) הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (the heavens), וְחַרְבּ֤וֹ (and his sword) שְׁלוּפָה֙ (being drawn) בְּיָד֔וֹ (in his hand) נְטוּיָ֖ה (stretched out) עַל־ (over) יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (Jerusalem). וַיִּפֹּ֨ל (And fell) דָּוִ֧יד (David) וְהַזְּקֵנִ֛ים (and the elders) מְכֻסִּ֥ים (covered) בַּשַּׂקִּ֖ים (in sackcloth) עַל־ (on) פְּנֵיהֶֽם׃ (their faces). 17  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֣יד (David) אֶֽל־ (to) הָאֱלֹהִ֡ים (God), הֲלֹא֩ (Was it not) אֲנִ֨י (I) אָמַ֜רְתִּי (who said) לִמְנ֣וֹת (to number) בָּעָ֗ם (the people)? וַאֲנִי־ (And I) ה֤וּא (am he) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) חָטָ֙אתִי֙ (has sinned) וְהָרֵ֣עַ (and with evil great) הֲרֵע֔וֹתִי (has done evil). וְאֵ֥לֶּה (And these) הַצֹּ֖אן (sheep), מֶ֣ה (what) עָשׂ֑וּ (have they done)? יְהוָ֣ה (O YHWH) אֱלֹהַ֗י (my God), תְּהִ֨י (let be), נָ֤א (please), יָֽדְךָ֙ (Your hand) בִּ֚י (upon me) וּבְבֵ֣ית (and upon the house) אָבִ֔י (of my father), וּֽבְעַמְּךָ֖ (and upon Your people) לֹ֥א (not), לְמַגֵּפָֽה׃ס (that they should be plagued).

David Builds an Altar
(2 Samuel 24:18–25)

18  וּמַלְאַ֧ךְ (And the angel) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) אָמַ֥ר (spoke) אֶל־ (to) גָּ֖ד (Gad) לֵאמֹ֣ר (to say) לְדָוִ֑יד (to David) כִּ֣י׀ (that) יַעֲלֶ֣ה (should go) דָוִ֗יד (David) לְהָקִ֤ים (and erect) מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ (an altar) לַיהוָ֔ה (to YHWH) בְּגֹ֖רֶן (on the threshing floor) אָרְנָ֥ן (of Ornan) הַיְבֻסִֽי׃ (the Jebusite). 19  וַיַּ֤עַל (And went up) דָּוִיד֙ (David) בִּדְבַר־ (at the word) גָּ֔ד (of Gad), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which) דִּבֶּ֖ר (he had spoken) בְּשֵׁ֥ם (in the name) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

20  וַיָּ֣שָׁב (And turned) אָרְנָ֗ן (Ornan) וַיַּרְא֙ (and saw) אֶת־ (-) הַמַּלְאָ֔ךְ (the angel). וְאַרְבַּ֧עַת (And four) בָּנָ֛יו (his sons) עִמּ֖וֹ (with him) מִֽתְחַבְּאִ֑ים (hid themselves), וְאָרְנָ֖ן (and Ornan) דָּ֥שׁ (was threshing) חִטִּֽים׃ (wheat). 21  וַיָּבֹ֥א (And came) דָוִ֖יד (David) עַד־ (to) אָרְנָ֑ן (Ornan), וַיַּבֵּ֤ט (and looked) אָרְנָן֙ (Ornan) וַיַּ֣רְא (and saw) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֔יד (David), וַיֵּצֵא֙ (and he went out) מִן־ (from) הַגֹּ֔רֶן (the threshing floor) וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ (and bowed) לְדָוִ֛יד (before David) אַפַּ֖יִם (with his face) אָֽרְצָה׃ (to the ground).

22  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֜יד (David) אֶל־ (to) אָרְנָ֗ן (Ornan), תְּנָה־ (Grant) לִּי֙ (me) מְק֣וֹם (the place) הַגֹּ֔רֶן (of the threshing floor), וְאֶבְנֶה־ (that I may build) בּ֥וֹ (on it) מִזְבֵּ֖חַ (an altar) לַיהוָ֑ה (to YHWH). בְּכֶ֤סֶף (At the price) מָלֵא֙ (full) תְּנֵ֣הוּ (you shall grant it) לִ֔י (to me), וְתֵעָצַ֥ר (that may be withdrawn) הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה (the plague) מֵעַ֥ל (from) הָעָֽם׃ (the people).

23  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) אָרְנָ֤ן (Ornan) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִיד֙ (David), קַֽח־ (Take it) לָ֔ךְ (to yourself), וְיַ֛עַשׂ (and let do) אֲדֹנִ֥י (my lord) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) הַטּ֣וֹב (good) בְּעֵינָ֑יו (in his eyes). רְאֵה֩ (See), נָתַ֨תִּי (I give you) הַבָּקָ֜ר (the oxen) לָֽעֹל֗וֹת (for burnt offerings) וְהַמּוֹרִגִּ֧ים (and the threshing sledges) לָעֵצִ֛ים (for wood), וְהַחִטִּ֥ים (and the wheat) לַמִּנְחָ֖ה (for the grain offering); הַכֹּ֥ל (all) נָתָֽתִּי׃ (I have given).

24  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (King) דָּוִיד֙ (David) לְאָרְנָ֔ן (to Ornan), לֹ֕א (No), כִּֽי־ (but) קָנֹ֥ה (buying) אֶקְנֶ֖ה (I will buy it) בְּכֶ֣סֶף (for the price) מָלֵ֑א (full); כִּ֠י (for) לֹא־ (not) אֶשָּׂ֤א (I will take) אֲשֶׁר־ (what is) לְךָ֙ (yours) לַיהוָ֔ה (for YHWH), וְהַעֲל֥וֹת (and as to offer) עוֹלָ֖ה (a burnt offering) חִנָּֽם׃ (without cost).

25  וַיִּתֵּ֥ן (And gave) דָּוִ֛יד (David) לְאָרְנָ֖ן (to Ornan) בַּמָּק֑וֹם (for the place) שִׁקְלֵ֣י (shekels) זָהָ֔ב (of gold) מִשְׁקָ֖ל (by weight) שֵׁ֥שׁ (six) מֵאֽוֹת׃ (hundred). 26  וַיִּבֶן֩ (And built) שָׁ֨ם (there) דָּוִ֤יד (David) מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ (an altar) לַיהוָ֔ה (to YHWH), וַיַּ֥עַל (and he offered) עֹל֖וֹת (burnt offerings) וּשְׁלָמִ֑ים (and peace offerings), וַיִּקְרָא֙ (and he called) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH). וַיַּֽעֲנֵ֤הוּ (And He answered him) בָאֵשׁ֙ (by the fire) מִן־ (from) הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (the heavens) עַ֖ל (on) מִזְבַּ֥ח (the altar) הָעֹלָֽה׃פ (of the burnt offering).

27  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And commanded) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) לַמַּלְאָ֔ךְ (the angel), וַיָּ֥שֶׁב (and he returned) חַרְבּ֖וֹ (his sword) אֶל־ (to) נְדָנָֽהּ׃ (its sheath).

28  בָּעֵ֣ת (At the time) הַהִ֔יא (that) בִּרְא֤וֹת (saw) דָּוִיד֙ (David) כִּי־ (that) עָנָ֣הוּ (had answered him) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) בְּגֹ֖רֶן (on the threshing floor) אָרְנָ֣ן (of Ornan) הַיְבוּסִ֑י (the Jebusite), וַיִּזְבַּ֖ח (and he sacrificed) שָֽׁם׃ (there). 29  וּמִשְׁכַּ֣ן (And for the tabernacle) יְ֠הוָה (of YHWH), אֲשֶׁר־ (which) עָשָׂ֨ה (had made) מֹשֶׁ֧ה (Moses) בַמִּדְבָּ֛ר (in the wilderness), וּמִזְבַּ֥ח (and the altar) הָעוֹלָ֖ה (of the burnt offering), בָּעֵ֣ת (at the time) הַהִ֑יא (that) בַּבָּמָ֖ה (at the high place) בְּגִבְעֽוֹן׃ (in Gibeon). 30  וְלֹא־ (Not) יָכֹ֥ל (could) דָּוִ֛יד (David) לָלֶ֥כֶת (go) לְפָנָ֖יו (before it) לִדְרֹ֣שׁ (to inquire) אֱלֹהִ֑ים (of God), כִּ֣י (for) נִבְעַ֔ת (he was afraid) מִפְּנֵ֕י (of) חֶ֖רֶב (the sword) מַלְאַ֥ךְ (of the angel) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH).