David's Census Brings Pestilence

1 Chronicles 21

1 Now a Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to 1 number Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, "Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, b and bring the number of them to me that I may know it." 3 And Joab answered, "May the LORD make His people a hundred times more than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?" 4 Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem. 5 Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. All Israel had one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and Judah had four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew the sword. 6 c But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king's 2 word was abominable to Joab.

7 And 3 God was displeased with this thing; therefore He struck Israel. 8 So David said to God, d "I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing; e but now, I pray, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly." 9 Then the LORD spoke to Gad, David's f seer, saying, 10 "Go and tell David, g saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you." ' " 11 So Gad came to David and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Choose for yourself, 12 h 'either 4 three 5 years of famine, or three months to be defeated by your foes with the sword of your enemies overtaking you, or else for three days the sword of the LORD - the plague in the land, with the 6 angel 7 of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.' Now consider what answer I should take back to Him who sent me." 13 And David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His i mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man."

14 So the LORD sent a j plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell. 15 And God sent 8 an k angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As 9 he 9 was destroying, the LORD looked and l relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who was destroying, "It is enough; now restrain 11 your 11 hand." And the angel of the LORD stood by the m threshing floor of 13 Ornan the Jebusite. 16 Then David lifted his eyes and n saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, having in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. So David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces. 17 And David said to God, "Was it not I who commanded the people to be numbered? I am the one who has sinned and done evil indeed; but these o sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, O LORD my God, be against me and my father's house, but not against Your people that they should be plagued."

  1. Cross References
    2 Samuel 24:1 - 25
    Again the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, "Go, number Israel and Judah.
    Job 1:6
    Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
  2. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 27:23
    But David did not take the number of those twenty years old and under, because the LORD had said He would multiply Israel like the stars of the heavens.
    1 Chronicles 27:24
    Joab the son of Zeruiah began a census, but he did not finish, for wrath came upon Israel because of this census; nor was the number recorded in the account of the chronicles of King David.
  3. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 27:24
    Joab the son of Zeruiah began a census, but he did not finish, for wrath came upon Israel because of this census; nor was the number recorded in the account of the chronicles of King David.
  4. Cross References
    2 Samuel 24:10
    And David's heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O LORD, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.
  5. Cross References
    2 Samuel 12:13
    So David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
  6. Cross References
    1 Samuel 9:9
    (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire...
    2 Kings 17:13
    Yet the LORD testified against Israel and again...
    1 Chronicles 29:29
    Now the acts of King David, first and last, ind...
    2 Chronicles 16:7
    And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa ki...
    2 Chronicles 16:10
    Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him i...
    Isaiah 30:9
    That this is a rebellious people, Lying childre...
    Isaiah 30:10
    Who say to the seers, "Do not see," And to the ...
    Amos 7:12
    Then Amaziah said to Amos: "Go, you seer! Flee ...
    Amos 7:13
    But never again prophesy at Bethel, For it is t...
  7. Cross References
    2 Samuel 24:12 - 14
    "Go and tell David, 'Thus says the LORD: "I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you." '"
  8. Cross References
    2 Samuel 24:13
    So Gad came to David and told him; and he said to him, "Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or shall you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' plague in your land? Now consider and see what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.
  9. Cross References
    Psalms 51:1
    Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
    Psalms 130:4
    But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.
    Psalms 130:7
    O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption.
  10. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 27:24
    Joab the son of Zeruiah began a census, but he did not finish, for wrath came upon Israel because of this census; nor was the number recorded in the account of the chronicles of King David.
  11. Cross References
    2 Samuel 24:16
    And when the angel stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, "It is enough; now restrain your hand." And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
  12. Cross References
    Genesis 6:6
    And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
  13. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 3:1
    Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
  14. Cross References
    Joshua 5:13
    And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, " Are You for us or for our adversaries?
    2 Chronicles 3:1
    Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
  15. Cross References
    2 Samuel 7:8
    Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.
    Psalms 74:1
    O GOD, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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