2 Samuel 24:2 So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, "Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number."

◄ 2 Samuel 24:2 ►

New International Version
So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.”

New Living Translation
So the king said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a census of all the tribes of Israel—from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south—so I may know how many people there are.”

English Standard Version
So the king said to Joab, the commander of the army, who was with him, “Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people.”

Berean Standard Bible
So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.”

King James Bible
For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.

New King James Version
So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Now go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people.”

New American Standard Bible
So the king said to Joab the commander of the army, who was with him, “Roam about now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and conduct a census of the people, so that I may know the number of the people.”

NASB 1995
The king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Go about now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and register the people, that I may know the number of the people.”

NASB 1977
And the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Go about now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and register the people, that I may know the number of the people.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So the king said to Joab the commander of the military force who was with him, “Go about now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and take a census of the people, that I may know the total count of the people.”

Amplified Bible
So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan [in the north] to Beersheba [in the south], and conduct a census of the people, so that I may know the number of the people.”

Christian Standard Bible
So the king said to Joab, the commander of his army, “Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba and register the troops so I can know their number.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So the king said to Joab, the commander of his army, “Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba and register the troops so I can know their number.”

American Standard Version
And the king said to Joab the captain of the host, who was with him, Go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the sum of the people.

Contemporary English Version
So David told Joab and the army officers, "Go to every tribe in Israel, from the town of Dan in the north all the way south to Beersheba, and count everyone who can serve in the army. I want to know how many there are."

English Revised Version
And the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the sum of the people.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
King David said to Joab, the commander of the army who was with him, "Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and count the people. That way I will know how many there are."

Good News Translation
So David gave orders to Joab, the commander of his army: "Go with your officers through all the tribes of Israel from one end of the country to the other, and count the people. I want to know how many there are."

International Standard Version
So the king ordered Joab, commander of the special forces, who was with him, "Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba and take a census of the people so I can be made aware of the total number."

Majority Standard Bible
So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, ?Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.?

NET Bible
The king told Joab, the general in command of his army, "Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba and muster the army, so I may know the size of the army."

New Heart English Bible
So the king said to Joab and the captains of the army, who were with him, "Now go back and forth through all Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba and number the people, that I may know the sum of the people."

Webster's Bible Translation
For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, who was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.

World English Bible
The king said to Joab the captain of the army, who was with him, “Now go back and forth through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and count the people, that I may know the sum of the people.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the king says to Joab, head of the host that [is] with him, “Now go to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-Sheba, and inspect the people; then I have known the number of the people.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the king saith unto Joab, head of the host that is with him, 'Go to and fro, I pray thee, through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba, and inspect ye the people -- and I have known the number of the people.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the king will say to Joab, chief of the army which was with him, Go now, up and down through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan and even to the Well of the Oath, and review ye the people, and I shall know the number of the people.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king said to Joab the general of his army: Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Bersabee, and number ye the people that I may know the number of them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the king said to Joab, the leader of his army, “Travel through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, so that I may know their number.”

New American Bible
The king therefore said to Joab and the leaders of the army who were with him, “Tour all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba and register the people, that I may know their number.”

New Revised Standard Version
So the king said to Joab and the commanders of the army, who were with him, “Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beer-sheba, and take a census of the people, so that I may know how many there are.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him. Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beer-sheba and number the people, and bring to me the sum of the number of the people.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And David said to Yuab the General of the army and to all the Generals of the army that were with him: “Walk among all of the tribes of Israel from Dan and unto Bar Sheba and count the people for me, and bring their number to me and the computation of the people”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the king said to Joab the captain of the host that was with him: 'Go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the sum of the people.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the king said to Joab commander of the host, who was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel and Juda, from Dan even to Bersabee, and number the people, and I will know the number of the people.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

David's Military Census
1Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.” 2So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.” 3But Joab replied to the king, “May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Chronicles 21:2
So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan and bring me a report, so that I may know their number.”

Exodus 30:12
“When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered.

Numbers 1:2-3
“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. / You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army.

Numbers 26:2
“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by the houses of their fathers—all those twenty years of age or older who can serve in the army of Israel.”

Deuteronomy 1:10-11
The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky. / May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times over and bless you as He has promised.

1 Samuel 11:8
And when Saul numbered them at Bezek, there were 300,000 Israelites and 30,000 men of Judah.

1 Samuel 15:4
So Saul summoned the troops and numbered them at Telaim—200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah.

1 Kings 20:15
So Ahab assembled the young officers of the district governors, and there were 232 men. And after them, he assembled the rest of the Israelite troops, 7,000 in all.

1 Chronicles 27:23-24
David did not count the men aged twenty or under, because the LORD had said that He would make Israel as numerous as the stars of the sky. / Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men but did not finish. For because of this census wrath came upon Israel, and the number was not entered in the Book of the Chronicles of King David.

Psalm 147:4
He determines the number of the stars; He calls them each by name.

Genesis 15:5
And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”

Genesis 22:17
I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.

Genesis 32:12
But You have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, too numerous to count.’”

Judges 20:2
The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords.

2 Samuel 18:1
Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of thousands and of hundreds.

Treasury of Scripture

For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number you the people, that I may know the number of the people.

Joab

2 Samuel 2:13
And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.

2 Samuel 8:16
And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

2 Samuel 20:23
Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:

Go now, etc.

1 Chronicles 21:2
And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.

from Dan

2 Samuel 3:10
To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.

2 Samuel 17:11
Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.

Judges 20:1
Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.

That I may

Deuteronomy 8:13,14
And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; …

2 Chronicles 32:25,26,31
But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem…

Proverbs 29:23
A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

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Army Beersheba Beer-Sheba Captain Captains Commander Commanders Count Dan Enroll Far Fighting Forth Fro Head Host Israel Joab Jo'ab Numbered Register Sum Throughout Tribes

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Army Beersheba Beer-Sheba Captain Captains Commander Commanders Count Dan Enroll Far Fighting Forth Fro Head Host Israel Joab Jo'ab Numbered Register Sum Throughout Tribes

2 Samuel 24

1. David, tempted by Satan, forces Joab to number the people
5. The captains, in nine months and twenty days, gather 1,300,000 fighting men
10. David repents, and having three plagues proposed by God, chooses pestilence
15. After the death of 70,000, David by prayer prevents the destruction of Jerusalem
18. David, by God's direction, purchases Araunah's threshing floor;
25. and the plague stops

Berean Study Bible

So the king said
This phrase introduces King David, a central figure in the narrative. David, known as a man after God's own heart, is depicted here in a moment of decision-making. The Hebrew root for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) often implies a declaration or command, indicating the authority and responsibility David holds as king. Historically, David's reign is marked by both triumphs and trials, and this verse sets the stage for a significant event in his leadership.

to Joab the commander of his army
Joab, whose name means "Yahweh is father," is a prominent military leader under David. His role as "commander" (שַׂר, sar) underscores his authority and experience in military matters. Joab's relationship with David is complex, marked by loyalty and tension. In the broader scriptural context, Joab's actions often reflect the challenges of balancing duty to the king with personal ambition and moral dilemmas.

Go through all the tribes of Israel
The command to "go through" (שׁוּט, shut) suggests a thorough and systematic approach. The "tribes of Israel" represent the twelve tribes descended from Jacob's sons, each with its own distinct identity and territory. This phrase highlights the unity and diversity within the nation of Israel, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the task at hand. Historically, the tribes' distribution and their interactions play a crucial role in Israel's social and political landscape.

from Dan to Beersheba
This phrase is a common biblical expression denoting the entire land of Israel, from the northernmost city, Dan, to the southernmost, Beersheba. It signifies the extent of the kingdom and the inclusivity of the census. Archaeologically, both Dan and Beersheba have been excavated, revealing insights into ancient Israelite culture and settlement patterns. This geographical span underscores the vastness of David's kingdom and the logistical challenge of the census.

and register the troops
The act of registering (פָּקַד, paqad) involves taking a census or accounting for the people, specifically the troops. This military census is intended to assess the nation's strength and readiness for battle. In the biblical context, such actions often carry spiritual implications, as reliance on military might can reflect a shift in trust from God to human resources. Theologically, this raises questions about faith, obedience, and the consequences of human pride.

so that I may know their number
David's desire to "know" (יָדַע, yada) the number of troops suggests a pursuit of knowledge and control. In the Hebrew tradition, "knowing" often implies a deep, intimate understanding. However, this census is later revealed to be a source of divine displeasure, as it reflects a reliance on human strength rather than God's provision. This phrase invites reflection on the tension between human initiative and divine sovereignty, a recurring theme in the biblical narrative.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - For the king said; Hebrew, and the king said. David's command was not the cause of Jehovah's auger, but the result of his having himself given way to ambition; and, as he yielded to the temptation, it so far became an act of Satan, in that it led to sin; but in its final result it led to good, in that the chastisement cured the people of their thirst for war. And as Satan can act only so far as the Divine will permits, the temptation was most truly the doing of Jehovah (but see note on 1 Samuel 26:19). Captain of the host, which was with him. There is a good deal of difficulty about this passage, as the word for "host" is not that elsewhere used, and the last phrase is somewhat meaningless. In 1 Chronicles 21:2 we find "David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people." Without the concurrence of these rulers, who were the princes of the tribes, the census could not have been taken. But as the ancient versions confirm the reading of the Hebrew here, no change of the text is admissible. Number ye. This is distinctly the war word, for which see note on 2 Samuel 18:1. It proves that the census was taken for military reasons. Even this in itself was not wrong (Numbers 26:2), but it is indicative of David's purpose. When, moreover, Moses numbered the people, the census was taken by the priests (Numbers 1:3; Numbers 26:1, 2), and from the payment of the half shekel to the sanctuary, it appears that it was to some extent a religious ceremony. All this David neglects, and the employment of Joab goes far to prove that what David wanted was an examination of the military resources of his kingdom.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

So the king
הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

said
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Joab
יוֹאָ֣ב ׀ (yō·w·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3097: Joab -- 'the LORD is father', three Israelites

the commander
שַׂר־ (śar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

of his army,
הַחַ֣יִל (ha·ḥa·yil)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2428: A force, an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength

who [was]
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

with him,
אִתּ֗וֹ (’it·tōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

“Go
שֽׁוּט־ (šūṭ-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7751: To push forth, to lash, to row, to travel

now
נָ֞א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

throughout
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the tribes
שִׁבְטֵ֤י (šiḇ·ṭê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7626: Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

from Dan
מִדָּן֙ (mid·dān)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1835: Dan -- 'judge', a son of Jacob, also a place in Northern Israel

to
וְעַד־ (wə·‘aḏ-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

Beersheba
שֶׁ֔בַע (še·ḇa‘)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 884: Beersheba -- 'well of seven', a place in the Negev

and register
וּפִקְד֖וּ (ū·p̄iq·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

the troops,
הָעָ֑ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

so that I may know
וְיָ֣דַעְתִּ֔י (wə·yā·ḏa‘·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3045: To know

their number.”
מִסְפַּ֥ר (mis·par)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4557: A number, definite, indefinite, narration

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OT History: 2 Samuel 24:2 The king said to Joab the captain (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)