2 Samuel 24 2

2 Samuel 24:2 kjv

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.

2 Samuel 24:2 nkjv

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."

2 Samuel 24:2 niv

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."

2 Samuel 24:2 esv

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."

2 Samuel 24:2 nlt

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."

2 Samuel 24 verses

2 Samuel 24 2 Meaning

King David instructed Joab, his military commander, along with the army officers, to traverse all the Israelite tribes, from the northernmost point of Dan to the southernmost point of Beersheba, and conduct a census of the population. David's stated reason was to ascertain the exact number of his people, which is widely interpreted as stemming from a motive of pride, self-reliance on military strength, or a desire for personal glory rather than sole dependence on God's provision and power.

2 Samuel 24 2 Context

2 Samuel chapter 24 details David's final great sin and the ensuing divine judgment. The narrative begins by stating that the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, which implicitly provides a background for why David was "incited" (by God, or Satan as per 1 Chr 21:1) to take a census. This action, an unauthorized counting of military strength, often signified a lack of trust in God's ability to deliver, and instead, placed confidence in human might or numbers. The act immediately precedes the severe pestilence as divine punishment, highlighting the seriousness of the sin. Historically, such censuses, while sometimes commanded by God (e.g., for tabernacle service or military drafts under Mosaic law), became problematic when done for prideful reasons, to assess human military might apart from God, or to levy excessive taxes, reflecting a king's overreaching authority or lack of dependence on the true King, Yahweh.

2 Samuel 24 2 Word analysis

• Then the King (וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ, Vayomer ha-melekh): Refers to King David. The term "King" (מֶלֶךְ, melekh) here highlights his supreme authority, but it's an authority given by God and expected to be exercised in accordance with God's will. His command here is authoritative, yet its source or motivation is questioned.
• said to Joab (אֶל־יוֹאָב, el Yo'av): Joab (Yo'av) was David's faithful, though at times ruthless, army commander (2 Sam 8:16). He held immense power and influence. His inclusion signifies that this was a military undertaking. Joab's unusual resistance (v.3) underlines the severity of David's proposed action, even to one typically willing to carry out difficult commands.
• the commander of the army (שַׂר־הַצָּבָא, sar ha-tzava): This title emphasizes Joab's top military position, making him the direct and logical person to execute a military census. The phrase also includes "the commanders of the army who were with him," signifying the entire military leadership would be involved.
• "Go now (לְכוּ־נָא, lekhu-na): An urgent imperative. "Go now" indicates immediate action and an intent to mobilize the military apparatus.
• through all the tribes of Israel, (בְּכָל־שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, bechol-shivtei Yisra'el): This specifies the geographical and demographic scope – the entire nation. It emphasizes a national-level census rather than a localized one.
• from Dan even to Beersheba (מִדָּן וְעַד־בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע, miDan ve'ad Be'er Shava): This common idiomatic phrase (Judges 20:1; 1 Sam 3:20; 1 Kgs 4:25) describes the entire breadth of the Israelite kingdom, from its northernmost point (Dan) to its southernmost point (Beersheba). It signifies a complete, all-encompassing survey of the population.
• and number (וּסְפָרוּ, u-sefaru): The verb "to number" or "to count" (סָפַר, safar) implies an official enumeration. In Israel, counting the people was sometimes divinely commanded for military or administrative purposes (Num 1, 26). However, an unauthorized census, especially one driven by the king's ego, could be seen as distrusting God's power and provision (e.g., relying on human strength rather than divine strength).
• the people, (אֶת־הָעָם, et ha'am): Referring to the populace, often implicitly meaning those eligible for military service in such a context.
• that I may know the number of the people." (וְאֵדְעָה אֶת מִסְפַּר הָעָם, ve'ed'ah et mispar ha'am): This states David's motivation. "That I may know" (וְאֵדְעָה, ve'ed'ah) implies a desire for personal knowledge and control. This seemingly benign statement conceals the underlying pride or lack of faith. David sought to quantify his strength rather than relying solely on God, who alone grants victories (Ps 44:6-7). This "knowing" often hints at an insecure king or a king seeking self-glory by establishing the magnitude of his kingdom's military power.

2 Samuel 24 2 Bonus section

The parallel account in 1 Chronicles 21:1 offers a crucial theological detail that deepens our understanding of 2 Samuel 24:2. While 2 Samuel 24:1 states, "the anger of the LORD was again kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them," 1 Chronicles 21:1 explicitly states, "Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to count Israel." This highlights a complex interplay of divine sovereignty, human responsibility, and evil agency. God, in His ultimate control and judgment upon Israel's prior sins (2 Sam 21-23 context), allowed or permitted Satan to tempt David. David, however, retained his free will to succumb to this temptation, making him fully culpable for the sin of pride and distrust that underlies his census command in verse 2. This theological nuance teaches that God can use even evil's intentions within His sovereign plan, without condoning or partaking in the sin itself. The immediate purpose of such an unauthorized census was likely military enrollment for conquest or defense, revealing David's heart had become too focused on human resources rather than the living God who alone delivers victory (Ps 44:6-7; Zech 4:6).

2 Samuel 24 2 Commentary

2 Samuel 24:2 serves as the launch point for a crisis brought upon Israel through David's sin. While simply "counting people" seems innocuous, in the biblical context, it carries significant weight. David's directive to conduct a census across the entire kingdom, from Dan to Beersheba, was likely born out of a desire for national pride, a statistical assessment of military potential, or a human-centered assurance of power, rather than faith in God's protection and provision. This is amplified by Joab's strong resistance (v.3), indicating that even his seasoned military commander recognized the spiritual transgression. Unlike previous divinely sanctioned censuses (e.g., in Numbers), this one appears to lack God's direct command or a redemptive component (Ex 30:11-16). David sought to "know the number of the people," signifying a shift from trusting the Lord for strength and victory to relying on the raw numbers of his fighting force. This misplaced trust is a core aspect of his sin and a common pitfall for leaders, reminding us that true strength lies not in human might or accumulation but in humble dependence on God.