¹² “When you take a census^(A) of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom^(B) for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague^(C) will come on them when you number them.

⁵⁰ So we have brought as an offering to the Lord the gold articles each of us acquired—armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves^(A) before the Lord.”

¹⁸ For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed^(A) from the empty way of life^(B) handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood^(C) of Christ, a lamb^(D) without blemish or defect.^(E)

²⁴ Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men but did not finish. God’s wrath came on Israel on account of this numbering,^(A) and the number was not entered in the book^[a] of the annals of King David.

²⁵ The silver obtained from those of the community who were counted in the census^(A) was 100 talents^[a] and 1,775 shekels,^[b] according to the sanctuary shekel— ²⁶ one beka per person,^(B) that is, half a shekel,^[c] according to the sanctuary shekel,^(C) from everyone who had crossed over to those counted, twenty years old or more,^(D) a total of 603,550 men.^(E)