1 And again the anger {af: divine wrath} of the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge} flared against Israel, and He prompted David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”
2 And the king said to Joab, the commander of the army {sar-hachayil: chief commander} who was with him, “Go now {shut-na: go patrol} through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and enroll the people so that I may know the number of the people.”
3 Then Joab said to the king, “May the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheikha, Multiplier and Sovereign} increase the people—however many they are—by a hundred times, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it; but why does my lord the king desire this matter {davar: matter}?”
4 But the word of the king prevailed over Joab and the commanders of the army, and Joab and the commanders of the army went out from before the king to enroll {lifqod: official numbering} the people of Israel {Yisra'el: covenant nation}.
5 And they crossed the Jordan River and camped at Aroer {baʿaroʿer: strategic border town}, on the right side of the city that lies in the midst of the valley of Gad, and then moved on to Jazer {yaʿzer: Israelite stronghold}.
6 They came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi {taḥtīm ḥōdshī: northwestern territory}, and they came to Dan Jaan, and around to Sidon {ṣīdōn: Phoenician port city}.
7 And they came to the fortress {mivtzar: strong defensive position} of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivite and the Canaanite, and they went out to the Negev of Judah, to Beersheba {be’er shava: southern landmark}.
8 And they journeyed through all the land, and they came to Jerusalem at the end {miktse: completion point} of nine months and twenty days {yom: measured time}.
9 Joab gave the number of the census {mifkad: official count} of the people to the king, and Israel was eight hundred thousand men of valor {chayil: warrior strength} drawing the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
10 And David’s heart struck him after he had counted the people, and David said to the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Judge}, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. And now, LORD {YHWH, Pardoning One}, please let the guilt of Your servant {eved: devoted subject} pass away, for I have acted very foolishly {niskalti: lacked discretion}.”
11 And David arose in the morning, and the word of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Communicator} came to Gad the prophet {navi: official mouthpiece}, David’s seer, saying:
12 Go and speak to David, ‘Thus says the LORD {YHWH, Ultimate Judge}: “Three things I am holding {notel: presenting as choices} over you; choose for yourself one of them, and I will do it for you.”’
13 So Gad came to David and reported to him, “Shall seven years of famine come upon you in your land, or three months of fleeing {nuscha: running away} before your enemies as they pursue you, or three days of plague {dever: destructive pestilence} in your land? Now consider and see what answer I shall return to the one who sent me.”
14 And David said to Gad, “I am in very great distress. Let us please fall into the hand of the LORD {YHWH | Merciful Judge}, for His mercies {rachamav: acts of deep compassion} are many. But let me not fall into the hand of man.”
15 And the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge} sent a plague {dever: devastating pestilence} upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand men died from Dan to Beersheba.
16 As the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD {YHWH, Merciful Rescuer} relented concerning the disaster {ra’ah: calamity}, and He said to the angel who was executing the destruction among the people, “It is enough; now cease your hand.” The angel of the LORD was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
17 And David said to the LORD {YHWH, Compassionate Ruler} when he saw the angel {mal’akh: divine messenger} striking the people, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have acted perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, I pray, be upon me and upon my father’s house.”
18 And Gad came to David on that day and said to him, “Go up and establish an altar for the LORD {YHWH, Accepts Worship} on the threshing floor {goren: grain processing site} of Araunah the Jebusite.”
19 So David went up according to the word of Gad, as the LORD {YHWH, Divine Commander} had commanded {tsivah: gave a direct order}.
20 Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants passing {ovrim: advancing toward him}, so Araunah went out and bowed down {vayyishtahu: humble submission} to the king with his face to the ground.
21 And Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” And David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to the LORD {YHWH, Plague Remover} so that the plague {magefa: divine affliction} may be stopped from upon the people.”
22 And Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up whatever he deems best. Behold the oxen for the burnt offering {olah: sacrifice consumed by fire} and the threshing sledges and the implements {keli: work tools} of the oxen for the wood.”
23 Araunah gave everything to the king, and Araunah said to the king, “May the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Approver} your God {Elohim, Divine Authority} accept you.”
24 The king responded to Araunah, “No; I will certainly pay for it, and I will not present burnt offerings to the LORD my God {YHWH Elohim, Worthy Recipient} without cost to myself.” Then David acquired {qanah: legal acquisition} the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
25 And David built an altar there to the LORD {YHWH, Prayer Receiver}, and he offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings; and the LORD {YHWH, National Healer} heard the plea for the land {aretz: territory}, and the plague {magefah: severe affliction} was held back from Israel.