2 Samuel 24

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

Once more, God's fury flared up against Israel, compelling David to count the people of 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.

The king told his army captain, Joab, "Travel across all of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count our people. I want to know how many we are."

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?

Joab pleaded with the king, "May God multiply your people a hundred times over, and may you witness this growth. But why, my king, do you find joy in such a 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.

Despite the king's command being against Joab and the army leaders, they had no choice but to obey. Leaving the king's presence, Joab and the leaders set out to count 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:

They journeyed across the Jordan, setting up camp in Aroer, to the right of the city nestled in the heart of the river of Gad, facing Jazer.

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

They journeyed to Gilead and the land of Tahtimhodshi, then on to Danjaan and around toward 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.

They journeyed to the mighty fortress of Tyre, visiting every city of the Hivites and Canaanites. They continued their travels south of Judah, all the way to Beersheba.

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

After a long and exhaustive journey across the vast lands, they finally arrived in Jerusalem, their hearts filled with relief and awe, after nine grueling months and twenty long 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.

Joab reported the census results to the king: Israel boasted 800,000 brave, sword-wielding men, while Judah had a force of 500,000 strong 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.

David felt a deep pang of guilt after he had counted his people. He confessed to God, "I have sinned greatly in what I've done. Please, God, take away your servant's guilt, for I've acted very foolishly."

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

As dawn broke, God's message reached David through his prophet Gad, his spiritual guide.

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.

Tell David, the LORD says, "I present you with three options; pick one, and I will bring it upon you."

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.

Gad approached David, his voice heavy with concern. "David," he asked, "what would you choose? Seven years of hunger ravaging your land, or three months of running from your enemies? Or perhaps, three days of deadly disease in your kingdom? Think carefully, for I must relay your decision to the one who 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.

David pleaded with Gad, "I'm in deep trouble. Let's surrender to God's mercy, for it is vast. Please, don't let me fall into the hands of people."

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.

So God unleashed a plague upon Israel from that morning until the time he had set. Tragically, seventy thousand men perished, from Dan to Beersheba.

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.

As the angel prepared to unleash destruction on Jerusalem, God relented from the calamity and intervened. He commanded the angel who was destroying the people, "Enough, halt your actions." The angel of the Lord was then near Araunah the Jebusite's threshing floor.

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.

Seeing the angel punishing the people, David pleaded with the LORD, "I admit, I've sinned and done wrong. But why punish these innocent ones? Please, let the punishment fall on me and my family instead."

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.

That day, Gad approached David with a message, "David, it's time. Build a sacred altar to honor the LORD, right there in Araunah the Jebusite's threshing floor."

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

Following Gad's advice, David ascended, obediently heeding the Lord's call.

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.

Araunah spotted the king and his entourage approaching. Overwhelmed with respect, he rushed out to meet them, prostrating himself before the king, his face touching the earth.

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.

Araunah, surprised, asked, "Why has the king come to me, his humble servant?" David replied, "I wish to purchase your threshing floor, to construct an altar for the Lord, hoping it will end the plague tormenting our 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.

Araunah, with a humble heart, said to David, "My lord, the king, please take and use whatever you find suitable. Look, here are oxen for the sacrifice, and their tools can be used as firewood."

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

Araunah, in his kingly manner, generously gave everything to the king. With a hopeful heart, he said, "May the Lord your God accept you."

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.

With a firm voice, the king told Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I won't present offerings to my God that cost me nothing." So, David purchased the land and the oxen, handing over fifty silver coins.

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.

David, in his deep devotion, constructed a sacred altar for the LORD. He presented offerings of peace and sacrifice. Touched by this act, the LORD showed mercy on the land, and the devastating plague ceased to afflict Israel.