God Kills 70,000 Innocent Israelites – King David – The Brick Bible

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Again Yahweh's anger blazed against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, 'Go and take a census of Israel and Judah!' And Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.

1 of 17 2 Samuel 24:1, 1 Chronicles 21:1

So the king said to Joab and the army commanders, 'Go through all the tribes of Israel and take a census, so I know how many people there are.'

2 of 17 2 Samuel 24:2

So Joab and the army commanders went out to take a census of the people of Israel.

3 of 17 2 Samuel 24:4

After 9 months and 20 days of traveling throughout the land, Joab returned to Jerusalem and reported the total number of the people to the king. There were 800,000 men in Israel able to wield a sword, and 500,000 men in Judah.

4 of 17 2 Samuel 24:8–9

But then David felt very guilty after he had taken a census of the people, and said to Yahweh, 'I have sinned greatly by doing this! Yahweh, I beg you to take away the guilt of your servant, for I have done a very foolish thing!'

5 of 17 2 Samuel 24:10

By the morning when David got up, the word of Yahweh had come to Gad the prophet: 'Go and tell David, "This is what Yahweh says: 'I am offering you three options. Choose one and I will inflict it against you.'"'

6 of 17 2 Samuel 24:11–12

Gad said to David, 'Shall there be three years of famine on your land? Three months of fleeing from your enemies as they pursue you? Or three days of plague on your land?'

7 of 17 2 Samuel 24:13

David said to Gad, 'I am distraught! But let us fall into God's hands rather than into the hands of men, for God is very merciful.'

8 of 17 2 Samuel 24:14–15

So Yahweh sent a plague throughout Israel.

9 of 17 2 Samuel 24:15

It lasted from morning until the appointed time.

10 of 17 2 Samuel 24:15

From north to south, 70,000 men died.

11 of 17 2 Samuel 24:15

Then the angel extended his hand to destroy Jerusalem.

12 of 17 2 Samuel 24:16

But Yahweh was grieved over the disaster, and he said to the angel who was destroying the people, 'That is enough. Hold back your hand.'

13 of 17 2 Samuel 24:16

When David saw the angel who was destroying the people, he said, 'I am the one who sinned, but these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand fall mightily against me and my family!'

14 of 17 2 Samuel 24:17

And Gad went to David that day and said, 'Build an altar to Yahweh on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.'

15 of 17 2 Samuel 24:18

So David built an altar there and offered burnt sacrifices.

16 of 17 2 Samuel 24:25

After this Yahweh heeded their prayers concerning the land, and the plague was removed from Israel.

17 of 17 2 Samuel 24:25

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