1 Chronicles 21:1-8 ▼

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

2 And David said to Joab and to the heads of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba and as far as Dan and bring it to me, that I may know their number.”

3 And Joab answered, “May YHWH add to His people as they are a hundred times. Are they not, my lord O king, all of them for my lord as servants? Why does my lord require this? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?”

4 And the word of the king was strengthened against Joab, and Joab went out and went throughout all Israel, and he came to Jerusalem.

5 And Joab gave the account of the number of the people to David. And all Israel had a thousand thousands and a hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and Judah had four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew the sword.

6 And Levi and Benjamin he did not count in their midst, for the word of the king was abominable to Joab.

7 And it was evil in the eyes of God concerning this thing, and He struck Israel.

8 And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing. And take away, please, the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”