1 Chronicles 21:1-3

Modern English Version

The Census of Israel and Judah^(A)

21 Now Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. ² Then David said to Joab and the leaders of the people, “Go count Israel from Beersheba to Dan and bring me a report, that I may know their number.”

³ But Joab said, “May the Lord increase the number of His people one hundred times more. My lord the king, are not all of them my lord’s servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it bring guilt on Israel?”