1 Chronicles 21:4
New International Version
The king’s word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem.

New Living Translation
But the king insisted that they take the census, so Joab traveled throughout all Israel to count the people. Then he returned to Jerusalem

English Standard Version
But the king’s word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem.

Berean Standard Bible
Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and traveled throughout Israel, and then he returned to Jerusalem.

King James Bible
Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

New King James Version
Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem.

New American Standard Bible
Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore, Joab departed and went throughout Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

NASB 1995
Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore, Joab departed and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

NASB 1977
Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore, Joab departed and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

Legacy Standard Bible
Nevertheless, the king’s word stood strong against Joab. So, Joab went out and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

Amplified Bible
But the king’s word prevailed over Joab. So Joab left and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem.

Christian Standard Bible
Yet the king’s order prevailed over Joab. So Joab left and traveled throughout Israel and then returned to Jerusalem.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Yet the king’s order prevailed over Joab. So Joab left and traveled throughout Israel and then returned to Jerusalem.

American Standard Version
Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

Contemporary English Version
But David would not change his mind. And so Joab went everywhere in Israel and Judah and counted the people. He returned to Jerusalem

English Revised Version
Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
However, the king overruled Joab. So Joab left, went throughout Israel, and returned to Jerusalem.

Good News Translation
But the king made Joab obey the order. Joab went out, traveled through the whole country of Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem.

International Standard Version
But the king's order overruled Joab, so Joab left, traveled throughout all of Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem

Majority Standard Bible
Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and traveled throughout Israel, and then he returned to Jerusalem.

NET Bible
But the king's edict stood, despite Joab's objections. So Joab left and traveled throughout Israel before returning to Jerusalem.

New Heart English Bible
Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

Webster's Bible Translation
Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

World English Bible
Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed and went throughout all Israel, then came to Jerusalem.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the word of the king [is] severe against Joab, and Joab goes out, and goes up and down in all Israel, and comes to Jerusalem.

Young's Literal Translation
And the word of the king is severe against Joab, and Joab goeth out, and goeth up and down in all Israel, and cometh in to Jerusalem.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the word of the king was strong upon Joab. And Joab will go forth, and he will go about in all Israel, and he will come to Jerusalem.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the king's word rather prevailed: and Joab departed, and went through all Israel: and returned to Jerusalem.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But the word of the king prevailed instead. And Joab went away, and he traveled around, through all of Israel. And he returned to Jerusalem.

New American Bible
However, the king’s command prevailed over Joab, who departed and traversed all of Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem.

New Revised Standard Version
But the king’s word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel, and came back to Jerusalem.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the word of the King prevailed over Yuab, and Yuab went out and walked into all Israel, and he returned and came to Jerusalem.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab; and Joab went out and passed through all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David's Military Census
3But Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply His troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all servants of my lord? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?” 4Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and traveled throughout Israel, and then he returned to Jerusalem. 5And Joab reported to David the total number of the troops. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, including 470,000 in Judah.…

Cross References
2 Samuel 24:4
Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army departed from the presence of the king to register the troops of Israel.

1 Samuel 15:24-26
Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. / Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the LORD.” / “I will not return with you,” Samuel replied. “For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and He has rejected you as king over Israel.”

2 Samuel 12:13
Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.

1 Kings 21:27-29
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly. / Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: / “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son.”

2 Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”

2 Chronicles 19:2
Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.

2 Chronicles 25:16
While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”

2 Chronicles 26:19
Uzziah, with a censer in his hand to offer incense, was enraged. But while he raged against the priests in their presence in the house of the LORD before the altar of incense, leprosy broke out on his forehead.

2 Chronicles 32:25-26
But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. / Then Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart—he and the people of Jerusalem—so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.

Psalm 51:1-4
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. / Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. / For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. ...

Proverbs 21:1
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

Jeremiah 26:13
So now, correct your ways and deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, so that He might relent of the disaster He has pronounced against you.

Ezekiel 18:30-32
Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. / Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? / For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!

Daniel 4:27
Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”


Treasury of Scripture

Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Why Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

the king's

Ecclesiastes 8:4
Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

Wherefore

Exodus 1:17
But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

Daniel 3:18
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Acts 5:29
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

and went

2 Samuel 24:3-8
And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing? …

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Departed However Israel Jerusalem Joab Jo'ab Joab's King's Nevertheless Overruled Prevailed Severe Stronger Throughout Wherefore Word
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Departed However Israel Jerusalem Joab Jo'ab Joab's King's Nevertheless Overruled Prevailed Severe Stronger Throughout Wherefore Word
1 Chronicles 21
1. David, tempted by Satan, forces Joab to number the people
5. The number of the people being brought, David repents of it
9. David having three plagues proposed by God, chooses the pestilence
14. After the death of 70,000, David by repentance prevents the destruction of Jerusalem
18. David, by Gad's direction, purchases Ornan's threshing floor;
26. where having built an altar, God gives a sign of his favor by fire.
28. David sacrifices there, being restrained from Gibeon by fear of the angel














Nevertheless
This word serves as a pivotal transition, indicating a shift in the narrative. In Hebrew, the word used is "ulam," which often introduces a contrast or an unexpected turn of events. Here, it underscores the tension between King David's authority and Joab's resistance. Despite Joab's objections, the king's command stands firm, highlighting the ultimate authority of the king, which can be seen as a reflection of God's sovereign will prevailing over human reasoning.

the king’s word
This phrase emphasizes the power and authority vested in King David. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a king's word was law, reflecting the divine right of kingship. David, as a man after God's own heart, is a type of Christ, whose word is ultimate and authoritative. This reminds believers of the importance of submitting to God's word, which holds ultimate authority in the life of a Christian.

prevailed against Joab
The Hebrew root for "prevailed" is "chazaq," meaning to be strong or firm. This indicates that despite Joab's reluctance and the moral implications of the census, David's command was enforced. Joab, a seasoned military leader, often acted with his own counsel, but here he is compelled to obey. This serves as a reminder of the struggle between human wisdom and divine command, urging believers to trust in God's plans even when they conflict with personal judgment.

So Joab departed
Joab's departure signifies obedience to the king's command, despite his personal misgivings. The act of departing is not just physical but also symbolic of submission to authority. In the broader biblical narrative, this reflects the journey of faith, where believers are called to step out in obedience, trusting in God's overarching plan.

and traveled throughout Israel
This phrase indicates the extensive nature of the task Joab undertook. The Hebrew term for "traveled" is "halak," which means to walk or go. It suggests a thorough and deliberate action, covering the entire nation. This mirrors the comprehensive nature of God's knowledge and care for His people, as He is aware of every individual within His creation.

and then he returned to Jerusalem
Joab's return to Jerusalem marks the completion of his task. Jerusalem, the city of David, holds significant theological importance as the center of worship and the future site of the Temple. This return can be seen as a foreshadowing of the ultimate return to God's presence, symbolizing the fulfillment of God's purposes. For believers, it serves as a reminder of the hope of returning to the heavenly Jerusalem, where God's presence dwells eternally.

(4) Wherefore Joab departed.--"Went out" scil, from the king's presence (Samuel). The chronicler omits the account of the route of Joab and his party, as described in 2Samuel 24:4-8. They crossed Jordan, and went to Aroer, Jazer, Gilead, and Dan; then round to Zidon, "the fortress of Tyre, and all the cities of the Hivite and Canaanite, and came out at the nageb of Judah, to Beersheba." The business occupied nine months and twenty days; and the fact that the generalissimo of David's forces and his chief officers found leisure for the undertaking indicates a time of settled peace. The census, therefore, belongs to the later years of the reign.

Verse 4. - Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. This short verse stands in the place of all the five verses of 2 Samuel 24:4-8, with their interesting contents, giving the route which Joab and his assistants took, and the time occupied (nine months and twenty days) to their return.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Nevertheless, the king's
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

word
וּדְבַר־ (ū·ḏə·ḇar-)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

prevailed
חָזַ֣ק (ḥā·zaq)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

against
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

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

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

left
וַיֵּצֵ֣א (way·yê·ṣê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

and traveled
וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ֙ (way·yiṯ·hal·lêḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

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

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

and then he returned
וַיָּבֹ֖א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to Jerusalem.
יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 21:4 Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 21:3
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