1 Chronicles 21:1-3

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

The Census and Plague

21 Satan stood up against Israel, and incited David to count the people of Israel. ² So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beer-sheba to Dan, and bring me a report, so that I may know their number.” ³ 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?”