David’s Military Census

(Exodus 30:11–16, 2 Samuel 24:1–9)

Then Satan[fn] rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops,“Go [and] count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan and bring me [a report] so that I may know their number.”

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But Joab replied,“May the LORD multiply His troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all servants of my lord? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”

4 

Nevertheless , the king’s word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and traveled throughout Israel, and then he returned to Jerusalem. 5 And Joab reported to David the total number of the troops. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 {} men who drew the sword, including 470,000 in Judah. 6 But [Joab] did not include Levi and Benjamin in the count, because the king’s command was detestable to him.

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