² So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count^(A) the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.”

¹² three years of famine,^(A) three months of being swept away^[a] before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword^(B) of the Lord^(C)—days of plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”