1 Chronicles 21:1-6
Expanded Bible
David Counts the Israelites(A)
21 ·Satan was against [or An adversary opposed] Israel, and he ·caused [incited] David to ·count [take a census of; C doing so implied trust in themselves rather than in God] the people of Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and ·count [take a census of] all the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan [C the whole expanse of Israel from south to north]. Then tell me so I will know how many there are.”
3 But Joab said, “May the Lord give the ·nation [or army] a hundred times more people. My ·master [lord] the king, ·all the Israelites are [L are they not all…?] your servants. Why do you want to do this, my master? ·You will make Israel guilty of sin [Why should you bring guilt/judgment to Israel?].”
4 But the ·king commanded [king’s word/edict prevailed despite] Joab, so Joab left and went through all Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem. 5 Joab gave the ·list [number] of the ·people [soldiers; warriors] to David. There were one million one hundred thousand men in all of Israel who could use the sword, and there were four hundred seventy thousand men in Judah who could use the sword. 6 But Joab did not count the tribes of Levi and Benjamin, because he ·didn’t like [was repulsed/disgusted/distressed by] King David’s order.
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1 Chronicles 21:1-6
Amplified Bible
Census Brings Pestilence
21 Satan [the adversary] stood up against Israel and incited David to [a]count [the population of] Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the leaders of the people, “Go, count Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me their total, so that I may know it.” 3 Joab said, “May the Lord add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why then does my lord require this? Why will he bring guilt on Israel?” 4 But the king’s word prevailed over Joab. So Joab left and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem. 5 Then Joab gave the total of the census of the people to David. And all Israel were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword; and in Judah 470,000 men who drew the sword. 6 But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, because the king’s order was detestable to Joab.
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- 1 Chronicles 21:1 David may have begun to think of himself as a powerful man in command of an invincible nation, rather than a man who relied on God for direction and success in warfare. Joab realized what David was thinking and pleaded with him to change his mind (v 3).
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