1. And Satan stood up against Yisroel, and provoked Dovid to number Yisroel.
2. And Dovid said to Yoav and to the sarei HaAm, Go, number Yisroel from Beer Sheva even to Dan; and bring the mispar (number) of them to me, that I may know it.
3. But Yoav answered, Hashem make His people a hundred times so many more as they be, but, adoni HaMelech, are not they all the avadim of adoni? Why then doth adoni require this thing? Why will he be a cause of ashmah to Yisroel?
4. Nevertheless the davar HaMelech prevailed against Yoav. Therefore, Yoav departed, and went throughout kol Yisroel, and came to Yerushalayim.
5. And Yoav gave up the sum of the number of HaAm unto Dovid. And kol Yisroel were 1,100,000 ish that drew cherev; and Yehudah was 470,000 ish that drew cherev.
6. But Levi and Binyamin counted he not among them, for the davar HaMelech was abominable to Yoav.
7. And HaElohim was displeased with this thing; therefore He struck Yisroel.
8. And Dovid said unto HaElohim, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing, but now, take away the avon of Thy eved, for I have done very foolishly.
9. And Hashem spoke unto Gad, Chozeh Dovid (seer of David) saying,
10. Go and tell Dovid, saying, Thus saith Hashem, I offer thee shalosh (three); choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
11. So Gad came to Dovid, and said unto him, Thus saith Hashem, Choose for thee