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David Sins by Numbering Israel

21 (A)Then Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to number Israel. So David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, “(B)Go, count Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, and bring me word that I may know their total count.” But Joab said, “(C)May Yahweh add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord seek this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?” Nevertheless, the king’s word stood strong against Joab. So, Joab went out and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. And Joab gave the total count of the [a]census of the people to David. And (D)all Israel were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword; and Judah was 470,000 men who drew the sword. (E)But he did not [b]number Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king’s [c]command was abominable to Joab.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 21:5 Lit muster
  2. 1 Chronicles 21:6 Lit muster
  3. 1 Chronicles 21:6 Lit word