3. And Joab saith, `Jehovah doth add to His people as they are a hundred times; are they not, my lord, O king, all of them to my lord for servants? why doth my lord seek this? why is he for a cause of guilt to Israel?'
4. And the word of the king [is] severe against Joab, and Joab goeth out, and goeth up and down in all Israel, and cometh in to Jerusalem.
5. And Joab giveth the account of the numbering of the people unto David, and all Israel is a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand, each drawing sword, and Judah [is] four hundred and seventy thousand, each drawing sword.
6. And Levi and Benjamin he hath not numbered in their midst, for the word of the king was abominable with Joab.
7. And it is evil in the eyes of God concerning this thing, and He smiteth Israel,
8. and David saith unto God, `I have sinned exceedingly, in that I have done this thing; and now, cause to pass away, I pray Thee, the iniquity of Thy servant, for I have acted very foolishly.'
9. And Jehovah speaketh unto Gad, seer of David, saying:
10. `Go, and thou hast spoken unto David, saying, Thus said Jehovah, Three--I am stretching out unto thee; choose for thee one of these, and I do [it] to thee.'
11. And Gad cometh in unto David, and saith to him, `Thus said Jehovah, Take for thee--
12. either for three years--famine, or three months to be consumed from the face of thine adversaries, even the sword of thine enemies to overtake, or three days the sword of Jehovah, even pestilence in the land, and a messenger of Jehovahdestroying in all the border of Israel; and now, see; what word do I return to Him who is sending me?'