Then Satanstoodup againstIsraeland movedDavidto numberIsrael.
Thesewere descendedfrom the giantsin Gath,and they fellby the handof Davidand by the handof his servants.
Joabthe sonof Zeruiahhad begunto count[them], but did not finish;and because of this,wrathcameupon Israel,and the numberwas not includedin the accountof the chroniclesof KingDavid.
Allthese[were] the sonsof Asher,headsof the fathers'houses,choiceand mightymenof valor,headsof the princes.And the numberof them enrolledby genealogyfor servicein warwas 26,000men.
Again there was a daywhen the sonsof Godcameto presentthemselves beforethe LORD,and Satanalsocameamongthem to presenthimself beforethe LORD.
"Whenyou takea censusof the sonsof Israelto numberthem, then eachoneof them shall givea ransomfor himselfto the LORD,when you numberthem, so that there will be noplagueamong them when you numberthem.
Then he showedme Joshuathe highprieststandingbeforethe angelof the LORD,and Satanstandingat his righthandto accusehim.
And the temptercameand saidto Him, "IfYou are the Sonof God,commandthat thesestonesbecomebread."
When He leftthere,the scribesand the Phariseesbeganto be veryhostileand to question Him closelyon many subjects,
"Simon,Simon,behold,Satanhasdemanded[permission] to siftyou likewheat;
Duringsupper,the devilhaving alreadyputinto the heartof JudasIscariot,[the son] of Simon,to betrayHim,
But Petersaid,"Ananias,whyhas Satanfilledyour heartto lieto the HolySpiritand to keep back[some] of the priceof the land?
and let us considerhow to stimulateone anotherto loveand gooddeeds,
Let no onesaywhen he is tempted,"I am being temptedby God";for Godcannot be temptedby evil,and He Himselfdoes not temptanyone.
ThenI hearda loudvoicein heaven,saying,"Nowthe salvation,and the power,and the kingdomof our Godand the authorityof His Christhave come,for the accuserof our brethrenhas been throwndown, he who accusesthem beforeour Goddayand night.
