Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he stirred up King David to count his people. The king said to Joab, his commander-in-chief, "Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, and count the people so I can know how many there are."

Joab replied, "May the Lord your God increase the number of people, however many they are, a hundredfold." Despite the king's words, Joab went ahead with the census as instructed by the king. He passed over Jordan and encamped in Aroer, near the city in the middle of the valley of Gad, and then moved on to Jazer.

From there, he came to Gilead and the land of Tahtimhodshi, then continued on to Danjaan and surrounded Sidon. Next, they reached the stronghold of Tyre and all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites, eventually making their way south through Judah as far as Beersheba.

After nine months and twenty days, Joab finally returned to Jerusalem with the count of Israel's people: eight hundred thousand warriors who drew swords, plus five hundred thousand men from Judah. But when David saw the numbers, he was filled with remorse and said to the Lord, "I have greatly sinned in counting my people; please take away the guilt of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly."

When morning came, a word from the Lord came through the prophet Gad, who served as one of David's seers. The message was: "I offer you three things: choose one of them, and I will do it to you." Gad brought this message to David and asked him to decide which option he preferred.

The options were: would seven years of famine come upon Israel, or should they flee for three months from their enemies while being pursued? Alternatively, could there be a plague that would last for three days in the land? David replied, "I am in distress; let us fall into the Lord's hand, because his mercies are great. I don't want to fall into human hands."

The Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from morning until evening, and seventy thousand men died from Dan to Beersheba. When an angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented of his plan and told the angel, "It's enough; now withdraw your hand." The Lord's angel was positioned near the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

Seeing the angel striking the people, David spoke to the Lord: "Behold, I have sinned and done wickedly. These sheep – what have they done? Let your hand be against me and my father's house." Gad then advised David to go up to the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite and build an altar to the Lord.

David followed Gad's instructions as the Lord had commanded, and when he arrived at the threshing floor, Araunah saw him coming with his servants. Araunah bowed down before King David, greeting him respectfully on the ground.

Araunah asked, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" David explained that he was there to buy the threshing floor and build an altar to stop the plague from afflicting Israel's people. Araunah offered David all his possessions, saying, "Here are oxen for a burnt offering and threshing instruments along with other equipment – take whatever you need."

Araunah gave everything to the king, adding, "May the Lord your God accept these gifts." But King David replied, "No, I will buy it from you; I won't offer sacrifices to the Lord my God using something that belongs to me for nothing. So David paid Araunah fifty shekels of silver for the threshing floor and oxen.

With the purchase complete, David built an altar to the Lord on the spot, offering burnt and peace offerings to stop the plague from spreading in Israel.