2 Samuel 24:1-3

Holman Christian Standard Bible

David’s Military Census

24 The Lord’s anger burned against Israel again, and He stirred up David against them to say: “Go, count the people of Israel and Judah.”^(A)

² So the king said to Joab, the commander of his army, “Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba and register the troops so I can know their number.”^(B)

³ Joab replied to the king, “May the Lord your God multiply the troops 100 times more than they are^(C)—while my lord the king looks on! But why does my lord the king want to do this?”