David Counts the Fighting Men
1 Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.
2
So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.”
3
But Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord’s subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”
4
The king’s word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem.
5
Joab reported the number of the fighting men to David: In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah.
6
But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, because the king’s command was repulsive to him.
7
This command was also evil in the sight of God; so he punished Israel.
8
Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”