1 Chronicles 21:3

3 And Joab answered, the LORD make his people a hundred times more numerous than they [are]: but, my lord the king, [are] they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

1 Chronicles 21:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 21:3

(See Gill on 1 Chronicles 21:1).

1 Chronicles 21:3 In-Context

1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and incited David to number Israel.

2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know [it].

3 And Joab answered, the LORD make his people a hundred times more numerous than they [are]: but, my lord the king, [are] they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

4 Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

5 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. And all [they of] Israel were a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah [was] four hundred and seventy thousand men that drew sword.