1 Chronicles 21:1-6

New International Reader's Version

David Counts His Fighting Men

21 Satan rose up against Israel. He stirred up David to count the men of Israel. ² So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go! Count the men of Israel from Beersheba all the way to Dan. Report back to me. Then I’ll know how many there are.”

³ Joab replied, “May the Lord multiply his troops 100 times. King David, you are my master. Aren’t all the men under your control? Why would you want me to count them? Do you want to make Israel guilty?”

⁴ In spite of what Joab said, the king’s order had more authority than Joab’s reply did. So Joab left and went all through Israel. Then he came back to Jerusalem. ⁵ Joab reported to David how many fighting men he had counted. In the whole land of Israel there were 1,100,000 men who could use their swords well. That included 470,000 men in Judah.

⁶ But Joab didn’t include the tribes of Levi and Benjamin in the total number. The king’s command was sickening to Joab.