1 Chronicles 21:1-6

English Standard Version

David's Census Brings Pestilence

21 ^(A)Then ^(B)Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. ²So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” ³But Joab said, “May the Lord add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord's servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?” ⁴But the king's word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem. ⁵And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David. In all Israel there were ^(C)1,100,000 men who drew the sword, and in Judah ^(D)470,000 who drew the sword. ⁶^(E)But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab.

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1 Chronicles 21:1-6

New American Standard Bible

Census Brings Plague

21 ^(A)Then Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to count Israel. ²So David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, “^(B)Go, count Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me word so that I may know their number.” ³But Joab said, “^(C)May the Lord add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! 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?” ⁴Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore, Joab departed and went throughout Israel, and came to Jerusalem. ⁵Then Joab gave the number of the census of the people to David. ^(D)Israel was 1,100,000 men in all who drew the sword; and Judah was 470,000 men who drew the sword. ⁶^(E)But he did not ^[a]count Levi and Benjamin among them, because the king’s ^[b]command was abhorrent to Joab.