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Thursday, July 24th, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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JPS Old Testament

1 Chronicles 21:6

But Levi and Benjamin he did not number among them; for the king's word was abominable to Joab.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Benjamin;   Census;   Conscience;   Integrity;   Israel;   Rulers;  

Dictionaries:

- Fausset Bible Dictionary - Army;   Census;   Joab;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Chronicles, I;   Number;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Joash;   Temple;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Da'vid;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Joab;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the count because the king’s command was detestable to him.
Hebrew Names Version
But he didn't count Levi and Binyamin among them; for the king's word was abominable to Yo'av.
King James Version
But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
English Standard Version
But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab.
New Century Version
But Joab did not count the tribes of Levi and Benjamin, because he didn't like King David's order.
New English Translation
Now Joab did not number Levi and Benjamin, for the king's edict disgusted him.
Amplified Bible
But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, because the king's order was detestable to Joab.
New American Standard Bible
But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, because the king's command was abhorrent to Joab.
World English Bible
But he didn't count Levi and Benjamin among them; for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But the Leuites and Beniamin counted he not among them: for the Kings worde was abominable to Ioab.
Legacy Standard Bible
But he did not number Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king's command was abominable to Joab.
Berean Standard Bible
But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the count, because the king's command was detestable to him.
Contemporary English Version
Joab refused to include anyone from the tribes of Levi and Benjamin, because he still disagreed with David's orders.
Complete Jewish Bible
But he didn't count Levi and Binyamin among them, because the king's order was hateful to Yo'av.
Darby Translation
But Levi and Benjamin he did not count among them; for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
Easy-to-Read Version
Joab did not count the tribes of Levi and Benjamin because he did not like King David's order.
George Lamsa Translation
But the Levites, the priests, and the tribe of Benjamin were not counted among them; for the kings word was abominable to Joab, and Joab was unwilling to number them.
Good News Translation
Because Joab disapproved of the king's command, he did not take any census of the tribes of Levi and Benjamin.
Lexham English Bible
But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, for the word of the king was repulsive to Joab.
Literal Translation
And Levi and Benjamin he did not number among them, for the word of the king was loathsome to Joab.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
As for Leui and Ben Iamin, he nombred them not amonge these: for the kynges worde was abhominable vnto Ioab.
American Standard Version
But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them; for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
Bible in Basic English
But Levi and Benjamin were not numbered among them, for Joab was disgusted with the king's order.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But the Leuites and Beniamin counted he not among them: For the kinges word was abhominable to Ioab.
King James Version (1611)
But Leui and Beniamin counted hee not among them: for the kings word was abominable to Ioab.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
But he numbered not Levi and Benjamin among them; for the word of the king was painful to Joab.
English Revised Version
But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For Joab noumbride not Leuy and Beniamyn, for ayens his wille he dide the comaundement of the kyng.
Update Bible Version
But Levi and Benjamin he did not count among them; for the king's word was disgusting to Joab.
Webster's Bible Translation
But Levi and Benjamin he counted not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
New King James Version
But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
New Living Translation
But Joab did not include the tribes of Levi and Benjamin in the census because he was so distressed at what the king had made him do.
New Life Bible
But Joab did not number Levi and Benjamin among them because he did not like what the king had told him to do.
New Revised Standard
But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, Levi and Benjamin, counted he not among them, - for detestable was the word of the king unto Joab.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But Levi and Benjamin he did not number: for Joab unwillingly executed the king’s orders.
Revised Standard Version
But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Jo'ab.
Young's Literal Translation
And Levi and Benjamin he hath not numbered in their midst, for the word of the king was abominable with Joab.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But he did not number Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab.

Contextual Overview

1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. 2 And David said to Joab and to the princes of the people: 'Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring me word, that I may know the sum of them.' 3 And Joab said: 'The LORD make His people a hundred times so many more as they are; but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of guilt unto Israel?' 4 Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. 5 And Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand men that drew sword; and Judah was four hundred three-score and ten thousand men that drew sword. 6 But Levi and Benjamin he did not number among them; for the king's word was abominable to Joab.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Levi: Numbers 1:47-49

Joab: 2 Samuel 3:27, 2 Samuel 11:15-21, 2 Samuel 20:9, 2 Samuel 20:10

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 24:9 - eight hundred thousand 1 Kings 3:8 - cannot Luke 6:41 - but

Cross-References

Genesis 17:17
Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart: 'Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?'
Genesis 21:12
And God said unto Abraham: 'Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah saith unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall seed be called to thee.
Genesis 21:15
And the water in the bottle was spent, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
Genesis 21:21
And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
Genesis 21:22
And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his host spoke unto Abraham, saying: 'God is with thee in all that thou doest.
Genesis 21:27
And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and they two made a covenant.
Genesis 21:28
And Abraham set seven ewe-lambs of the flock by themselves.
Psalms 113:9
Who maketh the barren woman to dwell in her house as a joyful mother of children.
Psalms 126:2
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing;
Isaiah 49:15
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, these may forget, yet will not I forget thee.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

See Gill "1Ch 21:1".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

To omit the Levites would be to follow the precedent recorded in Numbers 1:47-49. The omission of Benjamin must he ascribed to a determination on the part of Joab to frustrate the king’s intention, whereby he might hope to avert God’s wrath from the people.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Chronicles 21:6. Levi and Benjamin counted he not — The rabbins give the following reason for this: Joab, seeing that this would bring down destruction upon the people, purposed to save two tribes. Should David ask, Why have you not numbered the Levites? Joab purposed to say, Because the Levites are not reckoned among the children of Israel. Should he ask, Why have you not numbered Benjamin? he would answer, Benjamin has been already sufficiently punished, on account of the treatment of the woman at Gibeah: if, therefore, this tribe were to be again punished, who would remain?


 
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