2 Samuel 24:2

2 dixitque rex ad Ioab principem exercitus sui perambula omnes tribus Israhel a Dan usque Bersabee et numerate populum ut sciam numerum eius

2 Samuel 24:2 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 24:2

For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which [was]
with him
Or who was with him, even Joab, who was now at court, and was a counsellor of David, as well as his general; or which army was with Joab, a standing army he had the command of:

go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba;
from the northern part of the land of Israel to the southern part of it, and this course was accordingly steered, ( 2 Samuel 24:6 2 Samuel 24:7 ) ;

and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people;
so that this appears to be done not through any urgent necessity, but merely out of curiosity, and to gratify the pride of his heart, and please himself with the thought of ruling such a numerous people, and brag of their numbers to other nations, and place his confidence therein; and no wonder it was displeasing to the Lord.

2 Samuel 24:2 In-Context

1 et addidit furor Domini irasci contra Israhel commovitque David in eis dicentem vade numera Israhel et Iudam

2 dixitque rex ad Ioab principem exercitus sui perambula omnes tribus Israhel a Dan usque Bersabee et numerate populum ut sciam numerum eius

3 dixitque Ioab regi adaugeat Dominus Deus tuus ad populum quantus nunc est iterumque centuplicet in conspectu domini mei regis sed quid sibi dominus meus rex vult in re huiuscemodi

4 obtinuit autem sermo regis verba Ioab et principum exercitus egressusque est Ioab et principes militum a facie regis ut numerarent populum Israhel

5 cumque pertransissent Iordanem venerunt in Aroer ad dextram urbis quae est in valle Gad