1 Chronicles 21:1-8

Complete Jewish Bible

21 The Adversary ^[a] now rose up against Isra’el and incited David to take a census of Isra’el. ² David said to Yo’av and the leaders of the people, “Go, take a census of Isra’el from Be’er-Sheva to Dan; then report to me, so that I can know how many of them there are.” ³ Yo’av said, “May Adonai make his people a hundred times as many as they are now! But, my lord the king, aren’t they all my lord’s servants in any case? Why does my lord the king require this? Why should he bring guilt upon Isra’el?” ⁴ Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Yo’av. So Yo’av left and went through all Isra’el, after which he came to Yerushalayim.

⁵ Yo’av reported the results of the census to David: in Isra’el were 1,100,000 men who could handle a sword, while Y’hudah had 470,000 men who could handle a sword. ⁶ But he didn’t count Levi and Binyamin among them, because the king’s order was hateful to Yo’av.

⁷ God was displeased with this and therefore punished Isra’el. ⁸ David said to God, “I have greatly sinned by doing this. But now, please! Put aside your servant’s sin, for I have done a very foolish thing.”