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 [a]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.

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Footnotes

  1. 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.

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