File:David Orders Israel Numbered - II Samuel 24 1-4 - I Chronicles 21 1-4.jpg

Summary
David Orders Israel Numbered

II Samuel 24:1-4

24:1. The anger of the Lord was again kindled against Israel, and stirred up David among them, saying: Go, number Israel and Judah.

Stirred up, etc. . .This stirring up was not the doing of God, but of Satan; as it is expressly declared, 1 Chron. or Paralip. 21.1.

24:2. The king said to Joab the general of his army: Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Bersabee, and number the people that I may know the number of them.

24:3. Joab said to the king: The Lord your God increase your people, and make them as many more as they are now, and again multiply them a hundredfold in the sight of my lord the king: but what means my lord the king by this kind of thing?

24:4. But the king's words prevailed over the words of Joab, and of the captains of the army: and Joab, and the captains of the soldiers went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.

 21:1. Satan rose up against Israel: and moved David to number Israel.

21:2. David said to Joab, and to the rulers of the people: Go, and number Israel from Bersabee even to Dan, and bring me the number of them that I may know it.

21:3. 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?

21:4. But the king's word rather prevailed: and Joab departed, and went through all Israel: and returned to Jerusalem.