"I will smitethem with pestilenceand dispossessthem, and I will makeyou into a nationgreaterand mightierthanthey."
Now againthe angerof the LORDburnedagainst Israel,and it incitedDavidagainst them to say,"Go,numberIsraeland Judah."
"Nowthen letMe alone,that My angermay burnagainst them and that I may destroythem; and I will makeof you a greatnation."
Then they said,"The Godof the Hebrewshas metwith us. Please,let us goa threedays'journeyinto the wildernessthat we may sacrificeto the LORDour God,otherwiseHe will fallupon us with pestilenceorwith the sword."
"But the houseof Israelrebelledagainst Me in the wilderness.They did not walkin My statutesand they rejectedMy ordinances,by which,if a manobservesthem, he will live;and My sabbathsthey greatlyprofaned.Then I resolvedto pourout My wrathon them in the wilderness,to annihilatethem.
I will also bringupon you a swordwhich will executevengeancefor the covenant;and when you gathertogether into your cities,I will sendpestilenceamongyou, so that you shall be deliveredinto enemyhands.
Those who diedby the plaguewere 24,000
"The LORDwill make the pestilenceclingto you untilHe has consumedyou from the landwhereyou are enteringto possessit.
