2 Samuel 24:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But the king 's word prevailed against Joab and the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army went out from the presence of the king to number the people of Israel.

NIV: The king’s word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel.

NASB: Nevertheless, the king’s order prevailed against Joab and against the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army left the presence of the king to conduct a census of the people of Israel.

CSB: Yet the king’s order prevailed over Joab and the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army left the king’s presence to register the troops of Israel.

NLT: But the king insisted that they take the census, so Joab and the commanders of the army went out to count the people of Israel.

KJV: Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.

NKJV: Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the army. Therefore Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king to count the people of Israel.

Joab is David's long-time military commander and his nephew. Throughout his life, he's shown incredible loyalty to his king. He's also one of the very few people who can tell King David when he's making a mistake. The only others seem to be prophets and priests who speak for God. Joab's advice is more practical.

Joab will flagrantly disobey David's orders if he feels they're foolish and that he can get away with it. Joab vengefully killed Saul's general Abner, who had made a treaty with David (2 Samuel 3:30). He both brought David's son out of exile and killed him when he rebelled against his father (2 Samuel 14; 18:9–15). He told David that by mourning the traitor, he was shaming his men (2 Samuel 19:1–8). And he'll back David's son Adonijah as king when David knows Solomon will follow him (1 Kings 1:7–8, 30). Other than with Abner, even Joab's wrong decisions are based on logic and practicality.

Sometimes, Joab knows he must obey David's commands, even if the orders are wrong. That seemed to be the case with Uriah's death (2 Samuel 11:14–21). And it's the situation here. God is angry with Israel. His punishment requires David to take an unwise count of the fighting men. Joab and the generals see the census for the sin it is. David is somehow blinded. Joab has made his case, but he'll do what the king commands (2 Samuel 24:1–3).

The regular army spreads throughout the nation and counts the fighting men. But even as he obeys David, Joab rebels just a little. When he gives the final number, he doesn't include the tribes of Levi or Benjamin (2 Samuel 24:5–9; 1 Chronicles 21:6).

Second Samuel 24:1–9 (1 Chronicles 21:1–9) depicts a time when God was angry with Israel. He allows Satan to incite David to take a census. Though David may be trying to gauge taxes, it's more likely the census is a matter of national military pride. Joab takes nearly ten months to scour the nation. As a small rebellion, Joab's final report doesn't include the men from the tribes of Levi or Benjamin. David immediately realizes his mistake and accepts God's punishment: a plague that kills thousands (2 Samuel 24:10–15).

Second Samuel 24 (1 Chronicles 21) is the final story in the epilogue to 1 and 2 Samuel. God is angry with Israel and incites David to take a census. When it's finished, David accepts blame, and God punishes Israel with a plague. The plague's progress stops at a threshing floor just short of Jerusalem. David buys the land and offers a sacrifice. The land will later house the temple. In the chiasm—the mirror arrangement—epilogue of 1 and 2 Samuel, this story is partnered with God's punishment of Saul's family for their sin against the Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:1–14).

Second Samuel 24 (1 Chronicles 21) marks the end of the epilogue of 1 and 2 Samuel. Second Samuel 21—24 is a mirrored pattern showing how God's blessings on Israel are dependent on their obedience. Here, God is angry with Israel and incites David. The nation is disciplined by a deadly plague. In 2 Samuel 24, the story shows that God disciplines Israel's disobedience. In 1 Chronicles 21, the focus is on how David got the land for the temple.

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.