Bible Cross References
began to number
1 Chronicles 21:1-17
1
Satan wanted to bring trouble on the people of Israel, so he made David decide to take a census.
2
David gave orders to Joab and the other officers, "Go through Israel, from one end of the country to the other, and count the people. I want to know how many there are."
3
Joab answered, "May the LORD make the people of Israel a hundred times more numerous than they are now! Your Majesty, they are all your servants. Why do you want to do this and make the whole nation guilty?"
4
But the king made Joab obey the order. Joab went out, traveled through the whole country of Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem.
5
He reported to King David the total number of men capable of military service: 1,100,000 in Israel and 470,000 in Judah.
6
Because Joab disapproved of the king's command, he did not take any census of the tribes of Levi and Benjamin.
7
God was displeased with what had been done, so he punished Israel.
8
David said to God, "I have committed a terrible sin in doing this! Please forgive me. I have acted foolishly."
9
Then the LORD said to Gad, David's prophet,
10
"Go and tell David that I am giving him three choices. I will do whichever he chooses."
11
Gad went to David, told him what the LORD had said, and asked, "Which is it to be?
12
Three years of famine? Or three months of running away from the armies of your enemies? Or three days during which the LORD attacks you with his sword and sends an epidemic on your land, using his angel to bring death throughout Israel? What answer shall I give the LORD?"
13
David replied to Gad, "I am in a desperate situation! But I don't want to be punished by people. Let the LORD himself be the one to punish me, because he is merciful."
14
So the LORD sent an epidemic on the people of Israel, and seventy thousand of them died.
15
Then he sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem, but he changed his mind and said to the angel, "Stop! That's enough!" The angel was standing by the threshing place of Araunah, a Jebusite.
16
David saw the angel standing in midair, holding his sword in his hand, ready to destroy Jerusalem. Then David and the leaders of the people---all of whom were wearing sackcloth---bowed low, with their faces touching the ground.
17
David prayed, "O God, I am the one who did wrong. I am the one who ordered the census. What have these poor people done? LORD, my God, punish me and my family, and spare your people."
2 Samuel 24:1-15
1
On another occasion the LORD was angry with Israel, and he made David bring trouble on them. The LORD said to him, "Go and count the people of Israel and Judah."
2
So David gave orders to Joab, the commander of his army: "Go with your officers through all the tribes of Israel from one end of the country to the other, and count the people. I want to know how many there are."
3
But Joab answered the king, "Your Majesty, may the LORD your God make the people of Israel a hundred times more numerous than they are now, and may you live to see him do it. But why does Your Majesty want to do this?"
4
But the king made Joab and his officers obey his order; they left his presence and went out to count the people of Israel.
5
They crossed the Jordan and camped south of Aroer, the city in the middle of the valley, in the territory of Gad. From there they went north to Jazer,
6
and on to Gilead and to Kadesh, in Hittite territory. Then they went to Dan, and from Dan they went west to Sidon.
7
Then they went south to the fortified city of Tyre, on to all the cities of the Hivites and the Canaanites, and finally to Beersheba, in the southern part of Judah.
8
So after nine months and twenty days they returned to Jerusalem, having traveled through the whole country.
9
They reported to the king the total number of men capable of military service: 800,000 in Israel and 500,000 in Judah.
10
But after David had taken the census, his conscience began to hurt, and he said to the LORD, "I have committed a terrible sin in doing this! Please forgive me. I have acted foolishly."
11
The LORD said to Gad, David's prophet, "Go and tell David that I am giving him three choices. I will do whichever he chooses." The next morning, after David had gotten up,
13
Gad went to him, told him what the LORD had said, and asked, "Which is it to be? Three years of famine in your land or three months of running away from your enemies or three days of an epidemic in your land? Now think it over, and tell me what answer to take back to the LORD."
14
David answered, "I am in a desperate situation! But I don't want to be punished by people. Let the LORD himself be the one to punish us, for he is merciful."
15
So the LORD sent an epidemic on Israel, which lasted from that morning until the time that he had chosen. From one end of the country to the other seventy thousand Israelites died.