2nd Shamu'AL (2 Samuel) — 24

Daud’s Census of Yashar'AL and Yahudah 

1 Again the anger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH was aroused against Yashar'AL, and He moved Daud against them to say, “Go, number Yashar'AL and Yahudah.”

2 So the king said to Yuab the commander of the army who was with him, “Now go throughout all the tribes of Yashar'AL, from Dan to Baarshaba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people.”

3 And Yuab said to the king, “Now may  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH add to the people a hundred times more than there are, and may the eyes of my master the king see it. But why does my master the king desire this thing?” 

4 Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Yuab and against the captains of the army. Therefore Yuab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king to count the people of Yashar'AL.

5 And they crossed over the Yurdan and camped in Aruar, on the right side of the town which is in the midst of the ravine of Gad, and toward Yazar. 

6 Then they came to Gilaad and to the land of Tahtim Hudshi; they came to Dan Yaan and around to Sidun; 

7 and they came to the stronghold of Tyra and to all the cities of the Hibites and the Canaanites. Then they went out to South Yurdah as far as Baarshaba. 

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

9 Then Yuab gave the sum of the number of the people to the king. And there were in Yashar'AL eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Yahudah were five hundred thousand men.

The Judgment on Daud’s Sin

10 And Daud’s heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So Daud said to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”

11 Now when Daud arose in the morning, the Dabar of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH came to the Nabym (prophet) Gad, Daud’s seer, saying, 

12 “Go and tell Daud, ‘Thus says  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH: I offer you three things;  choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you.” 

13 So Gad came to Daud and said to him; choose amongst this tree things, “Seven years of famine shall come to you in your land? Or you shall flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or there shall be three days’ plague in your land? Now consider and see what answer I should take back to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH who sent me.”

14 And Daud said to Gad the Nabym, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

15 So 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH sent a plague upon Yashar'AL from the morning till the appointed time. From Dan to Baarshaba seventy thousand men of the people died. 

16 And when the Malak stretched out His hand over Yahushalam to destroy it,  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH relented from the destruction, and said to the Malak who was destroying the people, “It is enough; now restrain your hand.” And the Malak of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Yabusite.

17 Then Daud spoke to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  when he saw the Malak who was striking the people, and said, “Surely I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, be against me and against my father’s house.”

The Altar on the Threshing Floor

18 And Gad came that day to Daud and said to him, “Go up, erect an altar to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH on the threshing floor of Araunah the Yabusite.” 

19 So Daud, according to the word of Gad, went up as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH commanded. 

20 Now Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming toward him. So Araunah went out and bowed before the king with his face to the ground.

21 Then Araunah said, “Why has my master the king come to his servant?” And Daud said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, that the plague may be withdrawn from the people.”

22 Now Araunah said to Daud, “Let my master the king take and offer up whatever seems  good to him. Look, here are oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing implements and the yokes of the oxen for wood. 

23 All these, O king, Araunah has given to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, May 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH  accept you.”

24 Then king Daud said to Araunah, “No, I will surely buy it from you for a price; for I will not offer burnt offerings to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH my 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH with that which costs me nothing.” So Daud bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 

25 And Daud built there an altar to  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, and offered burnt offerings and Shalum offerings. So 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Yashar'AL.