Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, July 13th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

The NET Bible®

1 Chronicles 21:6

Now Joab did not number Levi and Benjamin, for the king's edict disgusted him.

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.
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.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
But Levi and Benjamin he did not number among them; for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
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 An adversary opposed Israel, inciting David to count how many warriors Israel had. 2 David told Joab and the leaders of the army, "Go, count the number of warriors from Beer Sheba to Dan. Then bring back a report to me so I may know how many we have." 3 Joab replied, "May the Lord make his army a hundred times larger! My master, O king, do not all of them serve my master? Why does my master want to do this? Why bring judgment on Israel?" 4 But the king's edict stood, despite Joab's objections. So Joab left and traveled throughout Israel before returning to Jerusalem. 5 Joab reported to David the number of warriors. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 sword-wielding soldiers; Judah alone had 470,000 sword-wielding soldiers. 6 Now Joab did not number Levi and Benjamin, for the king's edict disgusted him.

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 bowed down with his face to the ground and laughed as he said to himself, "Can a son be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?"
Genesis 21:12
But God said to Abraham, "Do not be upset about the boy or your slave wife. Do all that Sarah is telling you because through Isaac your descendants will be counted.
Genesis 21:15
When the water in the skin was gone, she shoved the child under one of the shrubs.
Genesis 21:21
He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother found a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Genesis 21:22
At that time Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, said to Abraham, "God is with you in all that you do.
Genesis 21:27
Abraham took some sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech. The two of them made a treaty.
Genesis 21:28
Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs apart from the flock by themselves.
Psalms 113:9
He makes the barren woman of the family a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord !
Psalms 126:2
At that time we laughed loudly and shouted for joy. At that time the nations said, "The Lord has accomplished great things for these people."
Isaiah 49:15
Can a woman forget her baby who nurses at her breast? Can she withhold compassion from the child she has borne? Even if mothers were to forget, I could never forget you!

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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