5. He told David how many people there were. In Israel there were 1,100,000 men who could use a sword. And there were 470,000 men in Judah who could use a sword.
6. But Joab did not count the tribes of Levi and Benjamin. He didn’t count them because he didn’t like King David’s order.
7. David had done something God had said was wrong. So God punished Israel.
8. Then David said to God, “I have done something very foolish. It was a terrible sin. Now, I beg you to forgive me, your servant.”
9. Gad was David’s seer. The Lord said to Gad,
10. “Go and tell David: ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to give you three choices. Choose one, and I will punish you in that way.’”
11. So Gad went to David and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Choose which punishment you want.