1 Chronicles 21:4

4 But the word of the king had more the mastery; and Joab went out, and compassed all Israel, and turned again into Jerusalem. (But the word of the king had more the mastery; and Joab went out, and went all around Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem.)

1 Chronicles 21:4 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 21:4

(See Gill on 1 Chronicles 21:1).

1 Chronicles 21:4 In-Context

2 And David said to Joab, and to the princes of the people, Go ye, and number all Israel from Beersheba till to Dan, and bring ye the number to me, that I know what it is. (And David said to Joab, and to the leaders of the people, Go ye, and count up all Israel from Beersheba unto Dan, and bring ye the number to me, so that I know what it is.)

3 And Joab answered, The Lord increase his people an hundredfold more than they be; (but) my lord the king, whether (they) all be not thy servants? Why seeketh my lord this thing, that shall be areckoned into sin to Israel? (that shall be reckoned as a sin by Israel?)

4 But the word of the king had more the mastery; and Joab went out, and compassed all Israel, and turned again into Jerusalem. (But the word of the king had more the mastery; and Joab went out, and went all around Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem.)

5 And he gave to David the number of them, which he had compassed; and all the number of Israel was found a thousand thousand, and an hundred thousand of men, drawing out sword; forsooth of Judah were three hundred thousand, and seventy thousand warriors. (And he gave David the number of them, which he had counted; and all the number of Israel was found to be a thousand thousand, and a hundred thousand men drawing out the sword; and in Judah there were four hundred and seventy thousand warriors.)

6 But Joab numbered not Levi and Benjamin, for against his will he did the commandment of the king. (But Joab did not count the Levites and the Benjaminites, for he did the king's commandment against his own will.)