2 Samuel 24:1-20 ▼

1 Again the anger of the LORD {YHWH} burned against Israel (he wrestles with God), and He stirred up David (beloved) against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah (praised).”

2 So the king said to Joab (YHWH is father) the commander of his army, who was with him [to Joab and the army commanders with him], “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God) from Dan (He has judged) to Beersheba (well of seven) and register the troops, so that I may know their number.”

3 But Joab (YHWH is father) replied to the king, “May the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka} multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”

4 Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab (YHWH is father) and against the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army departed from the presence of the king to register the troops of Israel (he wrestles with God).

5 They crossed the Jordan (flowing down) and camped near Aroer (ruins), south of the town in the middle of the valley, and proceeded toward Gad (troop) and Jazer (helped).

6 Then they went to Gilead (rocky region) and the land of Tahtim-hodshi (lowest-moon), and on to Dan-jaan (purposeful judgment) and around to Sidon (hunting).

7 They went toward the fortress of Tyre (a rock) and all the cities of the Hivites (villagers) and Canaanites (merchants). Finally, they went on to the Negev (southland) of Judah (to the south of Judah), to Beersheba (well of seven).

8 At the end of nine months and twenty days, having gone through the whole land, they returned to Jerusalem (city of peace).

9 And Joab (YHWH is father) reported to the king the total number of the troops. In Israel (he wrestles with God) there were 800,000 men of valor who drew the sword, and in Judah (praised) there were 500,000.

10 After David had numbered the troops, his (beloved) conscience was stricken and he said to the LORD {YHWH}, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

11 When David (beloved) got up in the morning, the word of the LORD {YHWH} had come to Gad (troop) the prophet, David’s seer:

12 “Go and tell David (beloved) that this is what the LORD {YHWH} says: ‘I am offering you three options. Choose one of them, and I will carry it out against you.’”

13 So Gad (troop) went and said to David (beloved), “Do you choose to endure three [seven] years of famine in your land, three months of fleeing the pursuit of your enemies, or three days of plague upon your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should reply to Him who sent me.”

14 David (beloved) answered Gad (troop), “I am deeply distressed. Please, let us fall into the hand of the LORD {YHWH}, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”

15 So the LORD {YHWH} sent a plague upon Israel (he wrestles with God) from that morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan (He has judged) to Beersheba (well of seven) died \and of the people from Dan to Beersheba, seventy thousand men died/.

16 But when the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem (city of peace), the LORD {YHWH} relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!” At that time the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah (Ornan) the Jebusite (Jerusalemite).

17 When David (beloved) saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD {YHWH}, “Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.”

18 And that day Gad (troop) came to David (beloved) and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD {YHWH} on the threshing floor of Araunah (I will shout for joy) the Jebusite (Jerusalemite).”

19 So David (beloved) went up at the word of Gad (troop), just as the LORD {YHWH} had commanded.

20 When Araunah (I will shout for joy) looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he went out and bowed facedown before the king.