Study Desk

And again was the anger of Yahweh kindled against Israel, - so that he suffered David to be moved against them, saying, Go, count Israel and Judah.

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.

Then said Joab unto the king - Yea, Yahweh thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, a hundredfold, and suffer the eyes of my lord the king, to see it, - but, my lord the king, wherefore doth he find pleasure in this thing?

Notwithstanding, the word of the king prevailed against Joab, and over the captains of the force, - so Joab went forth, with the captains of the force, before the king, to number the people - Israel.

And they passed over the Jordan, - and encamped in Aroer, on the right side of the city, that is in the midst of the ravine of Gad, even towards Jazer.

Thus came they to Gilead, and unto the land of Tahtim-hodshi, - and came to Dan-jaan, and round about Zidon;

and entered the fortress of Tyre, and all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites, - and they went out to the South of Judah, even to Beer-sheba.

So, when they had gone to and fro throughout all the land, they came, at the end of nine months and twenty days, unto Jerusalem.

And Joab delivered up the sum of the number of the people, unto the king, - and there were found to be, in Israel, eight hundred thousand men of valour, drawing the sword, - and, the men of Judah, five hundred thousand men.

And the heart of David smote him, after he had reckoned up the people, - and David said unto Yahweh - I have sinned greatly, in what I have done, Now, therefore, O Yahweh, take away, I beseech thee, the iniquity of thy servant, for I have done very foolishly.