² So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count^(A) the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.”

³ But Joab replied, “May the Lord multiply his troops a hundred times over.^(B) My lord the king, are they not all my lord’s subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”

⁶ But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, because the king’s command was repulsive to him.