His Mercies Are Great

David told Joab to go through all the tribes of Israel and count the people. Joab asked why the king wanted this, but David insisted. After nine months and twenty days, Joab came back with the numbers.

Then David's heart struck him. He said to the Lord, I have sinned greatly. The prophet Gad brought three choices of judgment. David said he was in distress, but he wanted to fall into Yahweh's hand, for His mercies are great. A pestilence came, and seventy thousand men died. When the angel reached toward Jerusalem, the Lord said, It is enough.

David saw the angel and prayed that God's hand would be against him and not against the people. Gad told David to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah. Araunah offered it as a gift, but David said he would not offer to Yahweh what cost him nothing. He paid fifty shekels of silver, built the altar, and the plague was removed.