The rest of the Samuel Books

David wanted to have his men counted. Joab told him he didn't need to do it, and that he shouldn't, But David didn't listen. Once he got the numbers he knew he had sinned. God sent someone to David he said: "Shall there come upon you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me." David chose the three days of Plague. So the LORD sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. 16 When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD was grieved because of the calamity and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the LORD was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. So David bought the threshing floor of the man and built an altar. David felt guilty. He was the one who did something bad and the people had to suffer. He felt really bad. How was counting men anything really bad?