1
The LORD became angry with Israel again, so he provoked David to turn against Israel. He said, "Go, count Israel and Judah."
2
King David said to Joab, the commander of the army who was with him, "Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and count the people. That way I will know how many there are."
3
Joab responded to the king, "May the LORD your God multiply the people a hundred times over, and may Your Majesty [live] to see it. But why does Your Majesty wish to do this?"
4
However, the king overruled Joab and the commanders of the army. So they left the king [in order] to count the people of Israel.
5
They crossed the Jordan River and camped at Aroer, south of the city in the middle of the valley. Then they went to Gad and to Jazer.
6
They went to Gilead and to Tahtim Hodshi and then to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon.
7
They went to the fortified city of Tyre and all the cities of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Then they went to Beersheba in the Negev of Judah.
8
When they had covered the whole country, they came to Jerusalem after 9 months and 20 days.
9
Joab reported the census figures to the king: In Israel there were 800,000 able-bodied men who could serve in the army, and in Judah there were 500,000.