Lectionary Calendar
Monday, August 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

New King James Version

1 Chronicles 21:6

But he did not count Levi and Benjamin 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.
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 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 2 Samuel 24:1-25">[xr] Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, "Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring the number of them to me that I may know it." 3 And Joab answered, "May the LORD make His people a hundred times more than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?" 4 Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem. 5 Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. All Israel had one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and Judah had four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew the sword. 6 But he did not count Levi and Benjamin 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 on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?"
Genesis 21:12
But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.
Genesis 21:15
And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs.
Genesis 21:21
He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Genesis 21:22
And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, "God is with you in all that you do.
Genesis 21:27
So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant.
Genesis 21:28
And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
Psalms 113:9
He grants the barren woman a home, Like a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD!
Psalms 126:2
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
Isaiah 49:15
"Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not 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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