1. The Lord was angry with Israel again, and he made David think it would be a good idea to count the people in Israel and Judah.
10. After David had everyone counted, he felt guilty and told the Lord, “What I did was stupid and terribly wrong. Lord, please forgive me.”
11. Before David even got up the next morning, the Lord had told David's prophet Gad
12-13. to take a message to David. Gad went to David and told him:You must choose one of three ways for the Lord to punish you: will there be seven years when the land won't grow enough food for your people? Or will your enemies chase you and make you run from them for three months? Or will there be three days of horrible disease in your land? Think about it and decide, because I have to give your answer to God, who sent me.