² And David said to Joab, and to the princes of the people, Go ye, and number all Israel from Beersheba till to Dan, and bring ye the number to me, that I know what it is. (And David said to Joab, and to the leaders of the people, Go ye, and count up all Israel from Beersheba unto Dan, and bring ye the number to me, so that I know what it is.)

³ And Joab answered, The Lord increase his people an hundredfold more than they be; (but) my lord the king, whether (they) all be not thy servants? Why seeketh my lord this thing, that shall be areckoned into sin to Israel? (that shall be reckoned as a sin by Israel?)

⁴ But the word of the king had more the mastery; and Joab went out, and compassed all Israel, and turned again into Jerusalem. (But the word of the king had more the mastery; and Joab went out, and went all around Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem.)