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Wednesday, June 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 6 / Ordinary 11
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Complete Jewish Bible

2 Samuel 24:2

The king said to Yo'av the commander of the army, who was with him, "Go systematically through all the tribes of Isra'el, from Dan to Be'er-Sheva; and take a census of the population; so that I can know how many people there are."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Armies;   Census;   Israel;   Presumption;   Rulers;   Thompson Chain Reference - Census;   Nation, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Joab;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Beersheba;   Dan;   Kadesh-barnea;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Beersheba;   Governor;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Beersheba;   Census;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Beer-Sheba;   Joab;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Congregation, Assembly;   Genealogy;   Samuel, Books of;   Sin;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Joab ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - David;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Da'vid;   Jo'ab;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Army;   Joab;   Tax;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Dan;   Palestine;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
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.”
Hebrew Names Version
The king said to Yo'av the captain of the host, who was with him, Go now back and forth through all the tribes of Yisra'el, from Dan even to Be'er-Sheva, and number you the people, that I may know the sum of the people.
King James Version
For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.
English Standard Version
So the king said to Joab, the commander of the army, who was with him, "Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people."
New Century Version
So King David said to Joab, the commander of the army, "Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people. Then I will know how many there are."
New English Translation
The king told Joab, the general in command of his army, "Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba and muster the army, so I may know the size of the army."
Amplified Bible
So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, "Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan [in the north] to Beersheba [in the south], and conduct a census of the people, so that I may know the number of the people."
New American Standard Bible
So the king said to Joab the commander of the army, who was with him, "Roam about now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and conduct a census of the people, so that I may know the number of the people."
Geneva Bible (1587)
For the King said to Ioab the captaine of the hoste, which was with him, Goe speedily now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan euen to Beer-sheba, and nomber ye the people, that I may knowe the nomber of the people.
Legacy Standard Bible
So the king said to Joab the commander of the military force who was with him, "Go about now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and take a census of the people, that I may know the total count of the people."
Contemporary English Version
So David told Joab and the army officers, "Go to every tribe in Israel, from the town of Dan in the north all the way south to Beersheba, and count everyone who can serve in the army. I want to know how many there are."
Darby Translation
And the king said to Joab the captain of the host, who was with him, Go, I pray thee, through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people.
Easy-to-Read Version
King David said to Joab, the captain of the army, "Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people. Then I will know how many people there are."
George Lamsa Translation
So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him. Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beer-sheba and number the people, and bring to me the sum of the number of the people.
Good News Translation
So David gave orders to Joab, the commander of his army: "Go with your officers through all the tribes of Israel from one end of the country to the other, and count the people. I want to know how many there are."
Lexham English Bible
The king said to Joab, the commander of the army who was with him: "Please go about through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people that I may know the number of the people."
Literal Translation
And the king said to Joab, the commander of the army with him, Go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the kynge sayde vnto Ioab ye chefe captayne of his hoost: Go aboute in all the trybes of Israel, from Dan vnto Berseba, and nombre the people, that I maye knowe how many they be.
American Standard Version
And the king said to Joab the captain of the host, who was with him, Go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the sum of the people.
Bible in Basic English
And the king said to Joab and the captains of the army, who were with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan as far as Beer-sheba, and have all the people numbered, so that I may be certain of the number of the people.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For the king sayde to Ioab the captaine of the hoast which was with him: Go thou abrode now throughout al the tribes of Israel, euen from Dan to Beerseba, and number ye the people, that I may knowe the number of them.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the king said to Joab the captain of the host that was with him: 'Go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the sum of the people.'
King James Version (1611)
For the king said to Ioab the captaine of the hoste, which was with him, Goe now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan euen to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the king said to Joab commander of the host, who was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel and Juda, from Dan even to Bersabee, and number the people, and I will know the number of the people.
English Revised Version
And the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer–sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the sum of the people.
Berean Standard Bible
So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, "Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the kyng seide to Joab, the prince of his oost, Go thou bi alle lynagis of Israel fro Dan `til to Bersabee, and noumbre thou the puple, that Y wite the noumbre therof.
Young's Literal Translation
And the king saith unto Joab, head of the host that [is] with him, `Go to and fro, I pray thee, through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba, and inspect ye the people -- and I have known the number of the people.'
Update Bible Version
And the king said to Joab, the captain of the host, who was with him, Go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number the people, that I may know the sum of the people.
Webster's Bible Translation
For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, who [was] with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.
World English Bible
The king said to Joab the captain of the host, who was with him, Go now back and forth through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number you the people, that I may know the sum of the people.
New King James Version
So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, "Now go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people."
New Living Translation
So the king said to Joab and the commanders of the army, "Take a census of all the tribes of Israel—from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south—so I may know how many people there are."
New Life Bible
So the king said to Joab the captain of the army who was with him, "Go through all the families of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba. Number the people, so I may know how many there are."
New Revised Standard
So the king said to Joab and the commanders of the army, who were with him, "Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beer-sheba, and take a census of the people, so that I may know how many there are."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The king, therefore, said unto Joab, captain of the force, who was with him - Go to and fro, I pray thee, throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even unto Beer -sheba, and number ye the people, - so shall I know the sum of the people.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king said to Joab the general of his army: Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Bersabee, and number ye the people that I may know the number of them.
Revised Standard Version
So the king said to Jo'ab and the commanders of the army, who were with him, "Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beer-sheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, "Go about now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and register the people, that I may know the number of the people."

Contextual Overview

1 The anger of Adonai blazed up against Isra'el, so he moved David to act against them by saying, "Go, take a census of Isra'el and Y'hudah." 2 The king said to Yo'av the commander of the army, who was with him, "Go systematically through all the tribes of Isra'el, from Dan to Be'er-Sheva; and take a census of the population; so that I can know how many people there are." 3 Yo'av said to the king, "May Adonai your God add to the people a hundredfold, no matter how many there are; and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king take pleasure in doing this?" 4 However, the king's word prevailed against Yo'av and the army officers. So Yo'av and the army officers went out from the king's presence to take a census of the people of Isra'el. 5 They crossed the Yarden and pitched camp in ‘Aro‘er, to the south of the city in the Vadi of Gad; went on to Ya‘zer; 6 came to Gil‘ad and continued to the land of Tachtim-Hodshi. Then they arrived at Dan-Ya‘an, went around to Tzidon 7 and came to the stronghold of Tzor. They went on to the cities of the Hivi and of the Kena‘ani, and finished in the south of Y'hudah, at Be'er-Sheva. 8 When they were done going through all the land, they came back to Yerushalayim; it had taken nine months and twenty days. 9 Yo'av reported the results of the census to the king: there were in Isra'el 800,000 valiant men who could handle a sword, while the men of Y'hudah numbered 500,000.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Joab: 2 Samuel 2:13, 2 Samuel 8:16, 2 Samuel 20:23, 2 Samuel 23:37

Go now: etc. or, Compass now all, 1 Chronicles 21:2

from Dan: 2 Samuel 3:10, 2 Samuel 17:11, Judges 20:1

and number: We know not in what the sinfulness of this action consisted. Some think it was a contempt of the promise that the Israelites should be innumerable, and that they ought not to have been numbered without an express command, as in the days of Moses. Others suppose with Josephus that it was a kind of sacrilege, in omitting to collect the half-shekel a-piece for the use of the sanctuary. It however would appear that pride and ambition, and a desire of conquest, induced David to this measure, and rendered it so displeasing to God.

that I may: Deuteronomy 8:13, Deuteronomy 8:14, 2 Chronicles 32:25, 2 Chronicles 32:26, 2 Chronicles 32:31, Proverbs 29:23, Jeremiah 17:5, 2 Corinthians 12:7

Reciprocal: Exodus 30:12 - no plague 2 Samuel 24:7 - to Beersheba 2 Samuel 24:15 - from Dan Ezekiel 48:1 - Dan

Cross-References

Genesis 15:2
Avram replied, " Adonai , God, what good will your gifts be to me if I continue childless; and Eli‘ezer from Dammesek inherits my possessions?
Genesis 24:4
but that you will go to my homeland, to my kinsmen, to choose a wife for my son Yitz'chak."
Genesis 24:6
Avraham said to him, "See to it that you don't bring my son back there.
Genesis 24:8
But if the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are released from your obligation under my oath. Just don't bring my son back there."
Genesis 24:9
The servant put his hand under the thigh of Avraham his master and swore to him concerning the matter.
Genesis 24:10
(iii) Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and all kinds of gifts from his master, got up and went to Aram-Naharayim, to Nachor's city.
Genesis 44:1
Then he ordered the manager of his household, "Fill the men's packs with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man's money just inside his pack.
Genesis 47:29
The time came when Isra'el was approaching death; so he called for his son Yosef and said to him, "If you truly love me, please put your hand under my thigh and pledge that, out of consideration for me, you will not bury me in Egypt.
1 Chronicles 29:24
All the leaders, the warrior-heroes and likewise the sons of King David submitted themselves to Shlomo the king.
1 Timothy 5:17
The leaders who lead well should be considered worthy of double honor, especially those working hard at communicating the Word and at teaching.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which [was] with him,.... Or who was with him, even Joab, who was now at court, and was a counsellor of David, as well as his general; or which army was with Joab, a standing army he had the command of:

go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba; from the northern part of the land of Israel to the southern part of it, and this course was accordingly steered, 2 Samuel 24:6;

and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people; so that this appears to be done not through any urgent necessity, but merely out of curiosity, and to gratify the pride of his heart, and please himself with the thought of ruling such a numerous people, and brag of their numbers to other nations, and place his confidence therein; and no wonder it was displeasing to the Lord.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

1 Chronicles 21:2, supplies some missing words. This passage should run, as at 2 Samuel 24:4, “And the king said to Joab and to the princes of the host who were with him,” etc. (compare 1 Chronicles 27:22). They were employed “with Joab” as his assistants in the numbering, exactly as in the previous numbering Numbers 1:4 when a prince was appointed from each tribe to be “with” Moses and Aaron.


 
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