1 Chronicles 21:1-2

Amplified Bible

Census Brings Pestilence

21 Satan [the adversary] stood up against Israel and incited David to ^[a]count [the population of] Israel. ²So David said to Joab and the leaders of the people, “Go, count Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me their total, so that I may know it.”

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Footnotes

1 Chronicles 21:1 David may have begun to think of himself as a powerful man in command of an invincible nation, rather than a man who relied on God for direction and success in warfare. Joab realized what David was thinking and pleaded with him to change his mind (v 3).