24 1 David causeth the people to be numbered.  10 He repenteth,and chooseth to fall into God’s hands. 15 Seventy thousand perish with the pestilence.

And the wrath of the Lord was [a]again kindled against Israel, and [b]he moved David against them, in that he said, Go, number Israel and Judah.

For the King said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go speedily now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the [c]number of the people.

And Joab said unto the King, The Lord thy God increase the people an hundredfold more than they be, and that the eyes of my lord the King may see it: but why doth my lord the King desire this thing?

Notwithstanding the King’s word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the host: therefore Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the King to number the people of Israel.

¶ And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer at the right side of the city that is in the midst of the [d]valley of Gad, and toward Jazer.

Then they came to Gilead, and to [e]Tahtim Hodshi, so they came to Dan Jaan, and so about to Sidon,

And came to the fortress of [f]Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and of the Canaanites, and went toward the South of Judah, even to Beersheba.

¶ So when they had gone about all the land, they returned to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

¶ And Joab delivered the number and sum of the people unto the King: and there were in Israel [g]eight hundred thousand strong men that drew swords, and the men of Judah were [h]five hundred thousand men.

10 Then David’s heart smote him, after that he had numbered the people: and David said unto the Lord, I have sinned exceedingly, in that I have done: therefore now, Lord, I beseech thee, take away the trespass of thy servant: for I have done very foolishly.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 24:1 Before they were plagued with famine, 2 Sam. 21:1.
  2. 2 Samuel 24:1 The Lord permitted Satan, as 1 Chron. 21:2.
  3. 2 Samuel 24:2 Because he did this to try his power, and so to trust therein, it offended God, else it was lawful to number the people, Exod. 30:12; Num. 1:2.
  4. 2 Samuel 24:5 Or, river.
  5. 2 Samuel 24:6 Or, to the nether land newly inhabited.
  6. 2 Samuel 24:7 Or, Zor.
  7. 2 Samuel 24:9 According to Joab’s count: for in all there were eleven hundred thousand, 1 Chron. 21:5.
  8. 2 Samuel 24:9 Concluding under them the Benjamites: for else they had but four hundred and seventy thousand, 1 Chron. 21:5.

David Enrolls the Fighting Men(A)

24 Again(B) the anger of the Lord burned against Israel,(C) and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of(D) Israel and Judah.”

So the king said to Joab(E) and the army commanders[a] with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba(F) and enroll(G) the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.”

But Joab(H) replied to the king, “May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times over,(I) and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”

The king’s word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel.

After crossing the Jordan, they camped near Aroer,(J) south of the town in the gorge, and then went through Gad and on to Jazer.(K) They went to Gilead and the region of Tahtim Hodshi, and on to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon.(L) Then they went toward the fortress of Tyre(M) and all the towns of the Hivites(N) and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to Beersheba(O) in the Negev(P) of Judah.

After they had gone through the entire land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand.(Q)

10 David was conscience-stricken(R) after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, “I have sinned(S) greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.(T)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 24:2 Septuagint (see also verse 4 and 1 Chron. 21:2); Hebrew Joab the army commander