1 Chronicles 21:2 net — David told Joab and the leaders of the army,“Go, count the number of warriors from Beer Sheba to Dan. Then bring back a…

NET Bible

"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.”"

— 1 Chronicles 21:2, NET Bible

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1 Chronicles 21:2 in Other Translations

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1 Chronicles 21 — Context

1

The Lord Sends a Plague against Israel 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.

1 Chronicles 21:2 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Chronicles 21:2 say?
1 Chronicles 21:2 in the NET Bible reads: “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.””
Where is 1 Chronicles 21:2 in the Bible?
1 Chronicles 21:2 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Chronicles, chapter 21, verse 2.
Who wrote 1 Chronicles?
1 Chronicles is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Ezra). It was written c. 450–425 BC.
What is the book of 1 Chronicles about?
1 Chronicles retells Israel's history from a priestly, post-exilic perspective. After extensive genealogies, it focuses on David — his reign, his preparations for the temple, and the line through which God's eternal kingdom would come.
What are the major themes of 1 Chronicles?
1 Chronicles explores themes including Genealogy, David's Reign, Temple Preparation, Worship, Continuity. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Chronicles 21:2.
What translation should I read 1 Chronicles 21:2 in?
1 Chronicles 21:2 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Chronicles 21:2?
1 Chronicles 21:2 reads (NET): “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.”” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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