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2 Samuel 24

Once again the Lord's anger burned against Israel, and David was incited against them: Go and count Israel and Judah. So the king told Joab, the commander of the army, Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and count the people, so I know how many there are. Joab answered the king, May the Lord your God multiply the peo

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The census

Once again the Lord's anger burned against Israel, and David was incited against them: Go and count Israel and Judah. So the king told Joab, the commander of the army, Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and count the people, so I know how many there are. Joab answered the king, May the Lord your God multiply the people a hundred times over while my lord the king lives to see it. But why does my lord the king want to do this? The king's command prevailed over Joab and the army commanders. So they left the king's presence to count the people of Israel. They crossed the Jordan and camped near Aroer, south of the city in the middle of the Gad valley, then went on toward Jazer. They came to Gilead and the land of Tahtim Hodshi, then went to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon. They went to the fortress of Tyre and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites, then continued south through Judah to Beersheba. After travelling through the whole land, they returned to Jerusalem after nine months and twenty days. Joab reported the total to the king: Israel had eight hundred thousand fighting men able to handle a sword, and Judah had five hundred thousand. After David counted the people, his conscience struck him. He said to the Lord, I have sinned greatly by doing this. Lord, please take away your servant's guilt. I have acted very foolishly. When David got up the next morning, the Lord spoke to the prophet Gad, David's seer: Go and tell David, This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three choices. Choose one, and I will do it to you. Gad came to David and presented the choices: Should seven years of famine come on your land? Or will you flee from your enemies for three months while they pursue you? Or should there be three days of plague in your land? Think it over and decide what answer I should take back to the one who sent me. David said to Gad, I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, because his mercy is great, but don't let me fall into human hands.

And the anger of the Lord was lit against Israel again, and he moved David against them: Go, count Israel and Judah. Because the king said to Joab the captain of the army with him: Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan right to Beersheba, and count the people, so I can know the number of the people. And Joab said to the king: Now the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times as many as there are, and let the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king take delight in this thing? But the king's word won against Joab and against the captains of the army. And Joab and the captains of the army went out from the king's presence to count the people of Israel. And they went over the Jordan and camped in Aroer, on the right side of the town that lies in the middle of the river of Gad, and towards Jazer. Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi. And they came to Dan Jaan and round to Sidon, and came to the stronghold of Tyre and to all the towns of the Hivites and of the Canaanites. And they went out to the south of Judah, to Beersheba. So when they'd gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to the king. And there were in Israel eight hundred thousand strong men who drew the sword. And the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. And David's heart struck him after he'd counted the people. And David said to the Lord: I've sinned badly in what I've done. And now, Lord, take away the wrongdoing of your servant, please. Because I've done very stupidly. Because when David got up in the morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David's seer: Go and tell David: This is what the Lord says. I offer you three things. Choose one of them, so I can do it to you. So Gad came to David and told him and said to him: Should seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you run three months in front of the ones against you while they chase you? Or should there be three days of plague in your land? Now think about it and see what answer I'll bring back to the one who sent me. And David said to Gad: I'm in a hard place. Let's fall now into the hand of the Lord, because his mercies are great. And don't let me fall into the hand of man.

And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people. And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing? Notwithstanding the king’s word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel. And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer: Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon, And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba. So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me. And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.

1

Once again the Lord's anger burned against Israel, and David was incited against them: Go and count Israel and Judah.

Plain English

And the anger of the Lord was lit against Israel again, and he moved David against them: Go, count Israel and Judah.

King James Version, 1611

And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

2

So the king told Joab, the commander of the army, Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and count the people, so I know how many there are.

Plain English

Because the king said to Joab the captain of the army with him: Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan right to Beersheba, and count the people, so I can know the number of the people.

King James Version, 1611

For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.

3

Joab answered the king, May the Lord your God multiply the people a hundred times over while my lord the king lives to see it. But why does my lord the king want to do this?

Plain English

And Joab said to the king: Now the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times as many as there are, and let the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king take delight in this thing?

King James Version, 1611

And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?

4

The king's command prevailed over Joab and the army commanders. So they left the king's presence to count the people of Israel.

Plain English

But the king's word won against Joab and against the captains of the army. And Joab and the captains of the army went out from the king's presence to count the people of Israel.

King James Version, 1611

Notwithstanding the king’s word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.

5

They crossed the Jordan and camped near Aroer, south of the city in the middle of the Gad valley, then went on toward Jazer.

Plain English

And they went over the Jordan and camped in Aroer, on the right side of the town that lies in the middle of the river of Gad, and towards Jazer.

King James Version, 1611

And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:

6

They came to Gilead and the land of Tahtim Hodshi, then went to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon.

Plain English

Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi. And they came to Dan Jaan and round to Sidon,

King James Version, 1611

Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,

7

They went to the fortress of Tyre and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites, then continued south through Judah to Beersheba.

Plain English

and came to the stronghold of Tyre and to all the towns of the Hivites and of the Canaanites. And they went out to the south of Judah, to Beersheba.

King James Version, 1611

And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba.

8

After travelling through the whole land, they returned to Jerusalem after nine months and twenty days.

Plain English

So when they'd gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

King James Version, 1611

So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

9

Joab reported the total to the king: Israel had eight hundred thousand fighting men able to handle a sword, and Judah had five hundred thousand.

Plain English

And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to the king. And there were in Israel eight hundred thousand strong men who drew the sword. And the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

King James Version, 1611

And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

10

After David counted the people, his conscience struck him. He said to the Lord, I have sinned greatly by doing this. Lord, please take away your servant's guilt. I have acted very foolishly.

Plain English

And David's heart struck him after he'd counted the people. And David said to the Lord: I've sinned badly in what I've done. And now, Lord, take away the wrongdoing of your servant, please. Because I've done very stupidly.

King James Version, 1611

And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

11

When David got up the next morning, the Lord spoke to the prophet Gad, David's seer:

Plain English

Because when David got up in the morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David's seer:

King James Version, 1611

For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying,

12

Go and tell David, This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three choices. Choose one, and I will do it to you.

Plain English

Go and tell David: This is what the Lord says. I offer you three things. Choose one of them, so I can do it to you.

King James Version, 1611

Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.

13

Gad came to David and presented the choices: Should seven years of famine come on your land? Or will you flee from your enemies for three months while they pursue you? Or should there be three days of plague in your land? Think it over and decide what answer I should take back to the one who sent me.

Plain English

So Gad came to David and told him and said to him: Should seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you run three months in front of the ones against you while they chase you? Or should there be three days of plague in your land? Now think about it and see what answer I'll bring back to the one who sent me.

King James Version, 1611

So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.

14

David said to Gad, I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, because his mercy is great, but don't let me fall into human hands.

Plain English

And David said to Gad: I'm in a hard place. Let's fall now into the hand of the Lord, because his mercies are great. And don't let me fall into the hand of man.

King James Version, 1611

And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.

The threshing floor of Araunah

So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand people died from Dan to Beersheba. When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented about the disaster and said to the angel destroying the people, Enough. Withdraw your hand. The angel of the Lord was then beside the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. When David saw the angel striking the people, he said to the Lord, I am the one who sinned. I am the one who did wrong. These people are only sheep — what have they done? Please let your hand fall on me and my father's house. That day Gad came to David and said, Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David went up as Gad had said, in obedience to the Lord's command. Araunah looked and saw the king and his servants coming toward him. He went out and bowed before the king with his face to the ground. Araunah asked, Why has my lord the king come to his servant? David answered, To buy your threshing floor so I can build an altar to the Lord and the plague on the people may stop. Araunah said to David, Let my lord the king take whatever he wishes and offer it. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and the threshing sledges and ox yokes can be used for the wood. Your Majesty, Araunah gives all of this to the king. And he added, May the Lord your God accept you. But the king said to Araunah, No. I insist on paying you for it. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. David built an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then the Lord answered prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel stopped.

So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from the morning right to the set time. And seventy thousand men died of the people from Dan to Beersheba. And when the angel stretched out his hand on Jerusalem to wreck it, the Lord was sorry about the trouble and said to the angel who wrecked the people: It's enough. Hold back your hand now. And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. And David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who struck the people: Look — I've sinned and I've done wrong. But these sheep — what have they done? Let your hand be against me, please, and against my father's house. And Gad came that day to David and said to him: Go up, set up an altar to the Lord in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. And David went up according to the word of Gad, the way the Lord ordered. And Araunah looked and saw the king and his servants coming towards him. And Araunah went out and bowed himself in front of the king on his face to the ground. And Araunah said: Why has my lord the king come to his servant? And David said: To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to the Lord, so the plague can be stopped from the people. And Araunah said to David: Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Look — here are oxen for a burnt sacrifice, and threshing tools and other tools of the oxen for wood. All these things Araunah gave to the king, like a king. And Araunah said to the king: The Lord your God accept you. And the king said to Araunah: No, but I'll definitely buy it from you for a price. And I won't offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord heard the prayer for the land, and the plague was stopped from Israel.

So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men. And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite. And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house. And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite. And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded. And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground. And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people. And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee. And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

15

So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand people died from Dan to Beersheba.

Plain English

So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from the morning right to the set time. And seventy thousand men died of the people from Dan to Beersheba.

King James Version, 1611

So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.

16

When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented about the disaster and said to the angel destroying the people, Enough. Withdraw your hand. The angel of the Lord was then beside the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

Plain English

And when the angel stretched out his hand on Jerusalem to wreck it, the Lord was sorry about the trouble and said to the angel who wrecked the people: It's enough. Hold back your hand now. And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

King James Version, 1611

And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.

17

When David saw the angel striking the people, he said to the Lord, I am the one who sinned. I am the one who did wrong. These people are only sheep — what have they done? Please let your hand fall on me and my father's house.

Plain English

And David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who struck the people: Look — I've sinned and I've done wrong. But these sheep — what have they done? Let your hand be against me, please, and against my father's house.

King James Version, 1611

And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.

18

That day Gad came to David and said, Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

Plain English

And Gad came that day to David and said to him: Go up, set up an altar to the Lord in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

King James Version, 1611

And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.

19

David went up as Gad had said, in obedience to the Lord's command.

Plain English

And David went up according to the word of Gad, the way the Lord ordered.

King James Version, 1611

And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded.

20

Araunah looked and saw the king and his servants coming toward him. He went out and bowed before the king with his face to the ground.

Plain English

And Araunah looked and saw the king and his servants coming towards him. And Araunah went out and bowed himself in front of the king on his face to the ground.

King James Version, 1611

And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.

21

Araunah asked, Why has my lord the king come to his servant? David answered, To buy your threshing floor so I can build an altar to the Lord and the plague on the people may stop.

Plain English

And Araunah said: Why has my lord the king come to his servant? And David said: To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to the Lord, so the plague can be stopped from the people.

King James Version, 1611

And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

22

Araunah said to David, Let my lord the king take whatever he wishes and offer it. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and the threshing sledges and ox yokes can be used for the wood.

Plain English

And Araunah said to David: Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Look — here are oxen for a burnt sacrifice, and threshing tools and other tools of the oxen for wood.

King James Version, 1611

And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.

23

Your Majesty, Araunah gives all of this to the king. And he added, May the Lord your God accept you.

Plain English

All these things Araunah gave to the king, like a king. And Araunah said to the king: The Lord your God accept you.

King James Version, 1611

All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.

24

But the king said to Araunah, No. I insist on paying you for it. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

Plain English

And the king said to Araunah: No, but I'll definitely buy it from you for a price. And I won't offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

King James Version, 1611

And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

25

David built an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then the Lord answered prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel stopped.

Plain English

And David built an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord heard the prayer for the land, and the plague was stopped from Israel.

King James Version, 1611

And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.