1 Chronicles 21:16, 17, 27, 30

David looked up and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand extended over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown.

David said to God, “Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I, the shepherd, have sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? LORD my God, let your hand fall on me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people.”

Then the LORD spoke to the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.

But David could not go before it to inquire of God, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD.