2 Samuel 24:3-5

International Standard Version

³ But Joab replied, “May the Lord your God increase the population of the people a hundredfold while your majesty the king is still alive to see it happen! But why does your majesty the king want to do this?”

⁴ But the king’s order overruled Joab and the commanders of the special forces, so Joab and the commanders of the special forces left David’s presence to take a census of the people of Israel. ⁵ They crossed the Jordan River,^[a] encamped at Aroer south of the town that is located in the river valley, proceeding through Gad and then on toward Jazer.