1 Chronicles 21:1-6

Legacy Standard Bible

David Sins by Numbering Israel

21 ^(A)Then Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to number Israel. ² So David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, “^(B)Go, count Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, and bring me word that I may know their total count.” ³ But Joab said, “^(C)May Yahweh 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 does my lord seek this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?” ⁴ Nevertheless, the king’s word stood strong against Joab. So, Joab went out and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. ⁵ And Joab gave the total count of the ^[a]census of the people to David. And ^(D)all Israel were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword; and Judah was 470,000 men who drew the sword. ^6 (E)But he did not ^[b]number Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king’s ^[c]command was abominable to Joab.