2 Samuel 24:1-3

Christian Standard Bible

David’s Military Census

24 The Lord’s anger burned against Israel again, and he stirred up David against them to say, “Go, count the people of Israel and Judah.”^(A)

² So the king said to Joab, the commander of his army, “Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba and register the troops so I can know their number.”^(B)

³ Joab replied to the king, “May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times more than they are^(C)—while my lord the king looks on! But why does my lord the king want to do this?”