2 Samuel 24:1-9 ▼

1 The LORD became angry with Israel again, so he provoked David to turn against Israel. He said, |Go, count Israel and Judah.|

2 King David said to Joab, the commander of the army who was with him, |Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and count the people. That way I will know how many there are.|

3 Joab responded to the king, |May the LORD your God multiply the people a hundred times over, and may Your Majesty [live] to see it. But why does Your Majesty wish to do this?|

4 However, the king overruled Joab and the commanders of the army. So they left the king [in order] to count the people of Israel.

5 They crossed the Jordan River and camped at Aroer, south of the city in the middle of the valley. Then they went to Gad and to Jazer.

6 They went to Gilead and to Tahtim Hodshi and then to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon.

7 They went to the fortified city of Tyre and all the cities of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Then they went to Beersheba in the Negev of Judah.

8 When they had covered the whole country, they came to Jerusalem after 9 months and 20 days.

9 Joab reported the census figures to the king: In Israel there were 800,000 able-bodied men who could serve in the army, and in Judah there were 500,000.