1 Chronicles 21:3
New International Version
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?”

New Living Translation
But Joab replied, “May the LORD increase the number of his people a hundred times over! But why, my lord the king, do you want to do this? Are they not all your servants? Why must you cause Israel to sin?”

English Standard Version
But Joab said, “May the LORD add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord’s servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?”

Berean Standard Bible
But Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply His troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all servants of my lord? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”

King James Bible
And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: 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?

New King James Version
And Joab answered, “May the LORD make His people a hundred times more than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?”

New American Standard Bible
But Joab said, “May the LORD add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! My lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord seek this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?”

NASB 1995
Joab said, “May the LORD add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord seek this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?”

NASB 1977
And Joab said, “May the LORD add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord seek this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?”

Legacy Standard Bible
But Joab said, “May Yahweh add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord seek this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?”

Amplified Bible
Joab said, “May the LORD add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why then does my lord require this? Why will he bring guilt on Israel?”

Christian Standard Bible
Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply the number of his people a hundred times over! My lord the king, aren’t they all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply the number of His people a hundred times over! My lord the king, aren’t they all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”

American Standard Version
And Joab said, Jehovah make his people a hundred times as many as they are: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of guilt unto Israel?

Contemporary English Version
Joab answered, "Your Majesty, even if the LORD made your kingdom a hundred times larger, you would still rule everyone in it. Why do you need to know how many soldiers there are? Don't you think that would make the whole nation angry?"

English Revised Version
And Joab said, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of guilt unto Israel?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Joab responded, "May the LORD multiply his people a hundred times over. But, Your Majesty, aren't they all your servants? Why are you trying to do this? Why do you wish to make Israel guilty of [this] sin?"

Good News Translation
Joab answered, "May the LORD make the people of Israel a hundred times more numerous than they are now! Your Majesty, they are all your servants. Why do you want to do this and make the whole nation guilty?"

International Standard Version
But Joab replied, "May the LORD increase the population of his people a hundredfold! Your majesty, all of them are your majesty's servants, aren't they? So why should your majesty demand this? Why should he bring guilt to Israel?"

Majority Standard Bible
But Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply His troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all servants of my lord? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”

NET Bible
Joab replied, "May the LORD make his army a hundred times larger! My master, O king, do not all of them serve my master? Why does my master want to do this? Why bring judgment on Israel?"

New Heart English Bible
Joab said, "May the LORD make his people a hundred times as many as they are. But, my lord the king, aren't they all my lord's servants? Why does my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause of guilt to Israel?"

Webster's Bible Translation
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?

World English Bible
Joab said, “May Yahweh make his people a hundred times as many as they are. But, my lord the king, aren’t they all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause of guilt to Israel?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Joab says, “YHWH adds to His people as they are one hundred times; are they not, my lord, O king, all of them for servants to my lord? Why does my lord seek this? Why is he for a cause of guilt to Israel?”

Young's Literal Translation
And Joab saith, 'Jehovah doth add to His people as they are a hundred times; are they not, my lord, O king, all of them to my lord for servants? why doth my lord seek this? why is he for a cause of guilt to Israel?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joab will say, Jehovah will add to his people as they are, a hundred times: are they not, my lord the king, all of them for servants to my lord? for what will my lord seek this? wherefore will he be for trespass to Israel?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Joab answered: The Lord make his people a hundred times more than they are : but, my lord the king, are they not all thy servants: why doth my lord seek this thing, which may be imputed as a sin to Israel?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Joab responded: “May the Lord increase his people a hundred times more than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all your servants? Why would my lord seek this thing, which may be imputed as a sin to Israel?”

New American Bible
But Joab replied: “May the LORD increase his people a hundredfold! My lord king, are not all of them my lord’s subjects? Why does my lord seek to do this thing? Why should he bring guilt upon Israel?”

New Revised Standard Version
But Joab said, “May the LORD increase the number of his people a hundredfold! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord’s servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Joab said to King David, May the LORD make his people a hundred times so many more as they are, and let the eyes of my lord the king see it, for they are all his servants; why then should our lord the king require this thing?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yuab said to David the King: “LORD JEHOVAH your God will add unto his people a hundred times their equal, and the eyes of my Lord the King will see, because all of them are his Servants, and why is our Lord the King pleased with this matter?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Joab said: 'The LORD make His people a hundred times so many more as they are; but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of guilt unto Israel?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joab said, May the Lord add to his people, a hundred-fold as many as they are, and let the eyes of my lord the king see it: all are the servants of my lord. Why does my lord seek this thing? do it not, lest it become a sin to Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David's Military Census
2So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan and bring me a report, so that I may know their number.” 3But Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply His troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all servants of my lord? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?” 4Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and traveled throughout Israel, and then he returned to Jerusalem.…

Cross References
2 Samuel 24:3
But Joab replied to the king, “May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”

Exodus 30:12
“When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered.

Numbers 1:49
“Do not number the tribe of Levi in the census with the other Israelites.

Numbers 31:49-50
and said, “Your servants have counted the soldiers under our command, and not one of us is missing. / So we have brought to the LORD an offering of the gold articles each man acquired—armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.”

Deuteronomy 1:10-11
The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky. / May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times over and bless you as He has promised.

Deuteronomy 7:7
The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.

Deuteronomy 7:13
He will love you and bless you and multiply you. He will bless the fruit of your womb and the produce of your land—your grain, new wine, and oil, the young of your herds and the lambs of your flocks—in the land that He swore to your fathers to give you.

Deuteronomy 28:62
You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky will be left few in number, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God.

2 Samuel 24:10
After David had numbered the troops, his conscience was stricken and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

1 Kings 3:8-9
Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number. / Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”

1 Kings 8:37-40
When famine or plague comes upon the land, or blight or mildew or locusts or grasshoppers, or when their enemy besieges them in their cities, whatever plague or sickness may come, / then may whatever prayer or petition Your people Israel make—each knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this temple— / be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and act, and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of all men— ...

Psalm 33:12
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance!

Psalm 105:24
And the LORD made His people very fruitful, more numerous than their foes,

Proverbs 14:28
A large population is a king’s splendor, but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.

Isaiah 48:19
Your descendants would have been as countless as the sand, and your offspring as numerous as its grains; their name would never be cut off or eliminated from My presence.”


Treasury of Scripture

And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then does my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

The Lord

1 Chronicles 19:13
Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.

Psalm 115:14
The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.

Proverbs 14:28
In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

why will

Genesis 20:9
Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.

Exodus 32:21
And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?

Numbers 32:9,10
For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them…

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1 Chronicles 21
1. David, tempted by Satan, forces Joab to number the people
5. The number of the people being brought, David repents of it
9. David having three plagues proposed by God, chooses the pestilence
14. After the death of 70,000, David by repentance prevents the destruction of Jerusalem
18. David, by Gad's direction, purchases Ornan's threshing floor;
26. where having built an altar, God gives a sign of his favor by fire.
28. David sacrifices there, being restrained from Gibeon by fear of the angel














But Joab replied
Joab, the commander of David's army, is a complex figure in the biblical narrative. His name in Hebrew, יוֹאָב (Yo'av), means "Yahweh is father." Joab's reply indicates his awareness of the spiritual and moral implications of David's command. Historically, Joab is known for his military prowess and political acumen, often acting as a voice of reason or caution to King David. His response here reflects his understanding of the potential consequences of the census, which was seen as an act of pride and lack of trust in God's provision.

May the LORD multiply His troops a hundred times over
This phrase reflects a common biblical blessing, invoking God's power to increase and bless abundantly. The Hebrew word for "multiply" is רָבָה (ravah), which conveys the idea of great increase and abundance. Joab's statement underscores a reliance on divine providence rather than human strength. In the historical context, counting troops could imply reliance on military might rather than faith in God's protection and provision.

My lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants?
Joab addresses David with respect, acknowledging his authority while subtly reminding him of the unity and loyalty of the people. The phrase "my lord's servants" emphasizes the collective identity of Israel as God's chosen people, serving under the king's leadership. This highlights the covenant relationship between God, the king, and the people, where the king is expected to lead in accordance with God's will.

Why does my lord want to do this?
This rhetorical question challenges David's motives, suggesting that the census is unnecessary and potentially harmful. Joab's question implies that David's desire to count the people stems from pride or insecurity, rather than a genuine need. In the broader scriptural context, this reflects the biblical theme of trusting in God's provision rather than human resources.

Why should he bring guilt on Israel?
The concept of "guilt" here is significant, as it implies a breach of covenantal faithfulness. The Hebrew word for guilt, אָשָׁם (asham), often denotes a state of moral or ritual impurity requiring atonement. Joab's warning suggests that the census could lead to divine judgment, as it reflects a lack of trust in God. Historically, this aligns with the biblical understanding that leaders' actions can have communal consequences, affecting the entire nation.

(3) Answered.--Hebrew, said.

The Lord . . . as they be.--Literally, Jehovah add upon his people like them an hundred times, an

abridged form of what is read in Samuel.

But, my lord the king, are they not . . .?--Instead of this, Samuel records another wish, "And may the eyes of my lord the king be seeing," that is, living (Genesis 16:13).

Why then doth my lord require this thing?--So Samuel, in slightly different terms: "And my lord the king, why desireth he this proposal?"

Why will he be (why should he become) a cause of trespass to Israel?--Not in Samuel. It is an explanatory addition by the chronicler.

Verse 3. - But my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? The place of this perfectly intelligible sentence, indicating that Joab discerned the object of David in desiring the numbering of the people, is occupied in the Book of Samuel by the words, "And that the eyes of my lord the king may see it;" which some for no very evident reason prefer. It was, no doubt, a very radical element of David's sin in this matter that he was thinking of the nation too much as his own servants, instead of as the servants of his one Master. The Lord ever knoweth who are his, and numbereth not only them and their names, but their every sigh, tear, prayer. A cause of trespass. This clause may be explained as though trespass was equivalent to the consequences, i.e. the punishment of trespass. This. however, rather tends to explain away than to explain a phrase. More probably the deeper meaning is that, in the fact of the numbering, nation and king would become one in act, and would become involved together in indisputable sin. Though there were no unfeigned assent and consent in the great body of the nation to the numbering, yet they would become participators in the wrong-doing. It would further seem evident, from Joab addressing these words to the king, that it was a thing familiarly known and thoroughly understood that the course David was now bent on following was one virtually, if not actually, prohibited, and not one merely likely to be displeasing to God on account of any individual disposition in David to be boastful or self-confident. Otherwise it would be scarcely within the province of Joab either to express or suppose this of his royal master.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Joab
יוֹאָ֗ב (yō·w·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3097: Joab -- 'the LORD is father', three Israelites

replied,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“May the LORD
יְהוָ֨ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

multiply
יוֹסֵף֩ (yō·w·sêp̄)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3254: To add, augment

His troops
עַמּ֤וֹ ׀ (‘am·mōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

a hundred
מֵאָ֣ה (mê·’āh)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 3967: A hundred

times
פְעָמִ֔ים (p̄ə·‘ā·mîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 6471: A beat, foot, anvil, occurrence

over.
כָּהֵם֙ (kā·hêm)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

My lord
אֲדֹנִ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

the king,
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

are they not
הֲלֹא֙ (hă·lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

all
כֻּלָּ֥ם (kul·lām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

servants
לַעֲבָדִ֑ים (la·‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

of my lord?
לַאדֹנִ֖י (la·ḏō·nî)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

Why
לָ֣מָּה (lām·māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

does my lord
אֲדֹנִ֔י (’ă·ḏō·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

want
יְבַקֵּ֥שׁ (yə·ḇaq·qêš)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

to do this?
זֹאת֙ (zōṯ)
Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

Why
לָ֛מָּה (lām·māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

should he bring
יִהְיֶ֥ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

guilt
לְאַשְׁמָ֖ה (lə·’aš·māh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 819: Guiltiness, a fault, the presentation of a, sin-offering

on Israel?”
לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (lə·yiś·rā·’êl)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 21:3 Joab said Yahweh make his people (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 21:2
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