ll thy servants: why
doth my lord seek this thing, which may be imputed as a sin to Israel?

21:4. But the king's word rather prevailed: and Joab departed, and went
through all Israel: and returned to Jerusalem.

21:5. And he gave David the number of them, whom he had surveyed: and
all the number of Israel was found to be eleven hundred thousand men
that drew the sword: and of Juda four hundred and seventy thousand
fighting men.

The number, etc... The difference of the numbers here and 2 Kings 24. is
to be accounted for, by supposing the greater number to be that which
was really found, and the lesser to be that which Joab gave in.

21:6. But Levi and Benjamin he did not number: for Joab unwillingly
executed the king's orders.

21:7. And God was displeased with this thing that was commanded: and he
struck Israel.

21:8. And David said to God: I have sinned exceedingly in doing this: I
beseech thee take away the iniquity of thy servant, for I have done
foolishly.

21:9. And the Lord spoke to Gad the seer of David, saying:

21:10. Go, and speak to David, and tell him: Thus saith the Lord: I give
thee the choice of three things: choose one which thou wilt, and I will
do it to thee.

21:11. And when Gad was come to David, he said to him: Thus saith the
Lord: choose which thou wilt:

21:12. Either three years famine: or three months to flee from thy
enemies, and not to be able to escape their sword: or three days to have
the sword of the Lord, and pestilence in the land, and the angel of the
Lord destroying in all the coasts of Israel: now therefore see what I
shall answer him who sent me.

Three years famine... Which joined with the three foregoing years of
famine mentioned, 2 Kings 21. and the seventh year of the land's
resting, would make up the seven years proposed by the prophet, 2 Kings
24.13.

21:13. And David said to Gad: I am on every side in a great strait: but
it is better for me to fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies
are many, than into the hands of men.

21:14. So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel. And there fell of
Israel seventy thousand men.

21:15. And he sent an angel to Jerusalem, to strike it: and as he was
striking it, the Lord beheld, and took pity for the greatness of the
evil: and said to the angel that destroyed: It is enough, now stop thy
hand. And the angel of the Lord stood by the thrashingfloor of Ornan the
Jebusite.

Ornan... Otherwise Areuna.

21:16. An