Study Desk

And it was evil in the eyes of God as to this thing, and He struck Israel.

And David said to God, I have sinned exceedingly in that I have done this thing; and now, I pray You to cause the iniquity of Your servant to pass away, for I have acted very foolishly.

And Jehovah spoke to Gad, the seer of David, saying,

Go; and you shall speak to David, saying, So says Jehovah, I am extending to you three things ; choose one of these for yourself, that I may do to you.

And Gad came to David and said to him, So says Jehovah, Choose for yourself:

either for three years of famine, or three months to be wasted before your adversaries, even to be overtaken by the sword of your enemies; or the sword of Jehovah three days, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of Jehovah destroying throughout all the borders of Israel. And now, see what answer I shall return to Him that sent me.

And David said to Gad, It is great distressing to me; now let me fall into the hand of Jehovah, for His mercies are very many; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.

And Jehovah sent a pestilence into Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell.

And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. And as he was destroying, Jehovah saw, and had pity as to the evil, and said to the destroying angel, Enough! Now stay your hand. And the angel of Jehovah stood by the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of Jehovah standing between the earth and the heavens, and his sword drawn in his hand, stretched out over Jerusalem; and David and the elders fell on their faces, covered with sackcloth.

And David said to God, Was it not I, I who said to number the people? Yea, it was I who sinned, and truly have done evil; and these, the flock, what have they done? O Jehovah, my God, I prayYou, let Your hand be on me and on my father'shouse, and not on Your people, to be plagued.