1. And Satan stood up against Israel, and incited David to number Israel.
2. And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.
3. And Joab answered, The LORD make his people a hundred times so many more as they are: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then does my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of guilt to Israel?
4. Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.
5. And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.
6. But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's command was abominable to Joab.
7. And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he struck Israel.
8. And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech you, take away the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.
9. And the LORD spoke unto Gad, David's seer, saying,
10. Go and tell David, saying, Thus says the LORD, I offer you three things: choose you one of them, that I may do it unto you.
11. So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus says the LORD,
12. Either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before your foes, while that the sword of your enemies overtakes you; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.
13. And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.
14. So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.