1 Chronicles 21:5
New International Version
Joab reported the number of the fighting men to David: In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah.

New Living Translation
and reported the number of people to David. There were 1,100,000 warriors in all Israel who could handle a sword, and 470,000 in Judah.

English Standard Version
And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, and in Judah 470,000 who drew the sword.

Berean Standard Bible
And 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.

King James Bible
And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.

New King James Version
Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. All Israel had one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and Judah had four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew the sword.

New American Standard Bible
Then Joab gave the number of the census of the people to David. Israel was 1,100,000 men in all who drew the sword; and Judah was 470,000 men who drew the sword.

NASB 1995
Joab gave the number of the census of all the people to David. And all Israel were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword; and Judah was 470,000 men who drew the sword.

NASB 1977
And Joab gave the number of the census of all the people to David. And all Israel were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword; and Judah was 470,000 men who drew the sword.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Joab gave the total count of the census of the people to David. And all Israel were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword; and Judah was 470,000 men who drew the sword.

Amplified Bible
Then Joab gave the total of the census of the people to David. And all Israel were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword; and in Judah 470,000 men who drew the sword.

Christian Standard Bible
Joab gave the total troop registration to David. In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand armed men and in Judah itself four hundred seventy thousand armed men.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Joab gave the total troop registration to David. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 swordsmen and in Judah itself 470,000 swordsmen.

American Standard Version
And Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.

Contemporary English Version
and told David that the total number of men who could serve in the army was 1,100,000 in Israel and 470,000 in Judah.

English Revised Version
And Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Joab reported the census figures to David: In Israel there were 1,100,000 men who could serve in the army, and in Judah there were 470,000 who could serve in the army.

Good News Translation
He reported to King David the total number of men capable of military service: 1,100,000 in Israel and 470,000 in Judah.

International Standard Version
to report the total population count to David. Throughout all of Israel there were 1,100,000 men trained for war. In Judah there were 470,000 men trained for war.

Majority Standard Bible
And 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.

NET Bible
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.

New Heart English Bible
Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people to David. All those of Israel were one million one hundred thousand men who drew sword: and in Judah were four hundred seventy thousand men who drew sword.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred and seventy thousand men that drew sword.

World English Bible
Joab gave the sum of the census of the people to David. All those of Israel were one million one hundred thousand men who drew a sword; and in Judah were four hundred seventy thousand men who drew a sword.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Joab gives the account of the numbering of the people to David, and all Israel is one million and one hundred thousand, each drawing sword, and Judah [is] four hundred and seventy thousand, each drawing sword.

Young's Literal Translation
And Joab giveth the account of the numbering of the people unto David, and all Israel is a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand, each drawing sword, and Judah is four hundred and seventy thousand, each drawing sword.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joab will give the number of reviewing the people to David. And all Israel will be a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand men drawing sword: and Judah four hundred and seventy thousand men drawing sword.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he gave David the number of them, whom he had surveyed: and all the number of Israel was found to be eleven hundred thousand men that drew the sword: and of Juda four hundred and seventy thousand fighting men.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he gave to David the number of those whom he had surveyed. And the entire number of Israel was found to be one million and one hundred thousand men who could draw the sword; but from Judah, there were four hundred and seventy thousand men of war.

New American Bible
Joab reported the census figures to David: of men capable of wielding a sword, there were in all Israel one million one hundred thousand, and in Judah four hundred and seventy thousand.

New Revised Standard Version
Joab gave the total count of the people to David. In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and in Judah four hundred seventy thousand who drew the sword.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. And the total number of the children of Israel was one million and one hundred thousand footmen who drew the sword; and the tribe of Judah was four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew the sword.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yuab gave the computation and the accounting of the people to David, and the number of the sons of Israel was one million and a hundred thousand footmen drawing a sword, and the tribe of the house of Yehuda were four hundred and seventy thousand in number, the men drawing a sword.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand men that drew sword; and Judah was four hundred three-score and ten thousand men that drew sword.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joab gave the number of the mustering of the people to David: and all Israel was a million and a hundred thousand men that drew sword: and the sons of Juda were four hundred and seventy thousand men that drew sword.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David's Military Census
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. 6But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the count, because the king’s command was detestable to him.…

Cross References
2 Samuel 24:9
And Joab reported to the king the total number of the troops. In Israel there were 800,000 men of valor who drew the sword, and in Judah there were 500,000.

Numbers 1:26-27
From the sons of Judah, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, / those registered to the tribe of Judah numbered 74,600.

Numbers 1:45-46
So all the Israelites twenty years of age or older who could serve in Israel’s army were counted according to their families. / And all those counted totaled 603,550.

Numbers 26:51
These men of Israel numbered 601,730 in all.

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.

2 Samuel 24:1
Again 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.”

2 Samuel 24:10
After David had numbered the troops, his conscience was stricken and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

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.

1 Kings 20:27
The Israelites also mobilized, gathered supplies, and marched out to meet them. The Israelites camped before them like two small flocks of goats, while the Arameans covered the countryside.

2 Chronicles 17:14-18
These are their numbers according to the houses of their fathers: From Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 mighty men of valor; / next to him, Jehohanan the commander, and with him 280,000; / and next to him, Amasiah son of Zichri, the volunteer for the LORD, and with him 200,000 mighty men of valor. ...

Revelation 7:4
And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel:

Revelation 14:1
Then I looked and saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads.

Matthew 10:30
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Luke 12:7
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Acts 1:15
In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty) and said,


Treasury of Scripture

And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred three score and ten thousand men that drew sword.

a thousand The Syriac has

1 Chronicles 27:23
But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.

2 Samuel 24:9
And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

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Census David Drew Fighting Four Hundred Israel Joab Jo'ab Judah Million Numbering Reported Seventy Sum Sword Ten Thousand Threescore Three-Score
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Census David Drew Fighting Four Hundred Israel Joab Jo'ab Judah Million Numbering Reported Seventy Sum Sword Ten Thousand Threescore Three-Score
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














And Joab reported to David
Joab, the commander of David's army, plays a crucial role in this narrative. His name in Hebrew, יוֹאָב (Yo'av), means "Yahweh is father." Joab's reporting to David signifies the completion of a task that was reluctantly undertaken. Historically, Joab's hesitance to conduct the census reflects his awareness of the potential spiritual consequences, as censuses were often associated with divine judgment or pride. This highlights the tension between obedience to the king and obedience to God.

the total number of the mighty men
The phrase "mighty men" refers to the seasoned warriors of Israel, known in Hebrew as גִּבּוֹרִים (gibborim). These were not just ordinary soldiers but elite fighters, renowned for their strength and valor. The chronicling of their number underscores the military strength of Israel at the time, yet it also serves as a reminder of the temptation to rely on human power rather than divine providence.

In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword
The enumeration of "1,100,000 men" who could wield a sword indicates a formidable military force. The act of "drawing the sword" is symbolic of readiness for battle and defense. In the historical context, this vast number reflects the united strength of the tribes of Israel. However, from a theological perspective, it also serves as a caution against placing trust in numbers and military might over faith in God.

including 470,000 in Judah
The specific mention of "470,000 in Judah" highlights the prominence and strength of the tribe of Judah, from which King David hailed. Judah's significant contribution to the military census emphasizes its leading role among the tribes. This detail not only reflects the historical and political landscape of the time but also foreshadows the future prominence of Judah in biblical prophecy, ultimately pointing to the lineage of Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

(5) The number.--Muster, or census (miphq?d). The first clause is identical with Samuel, but has "David" for "the king," as elsewhere.

And all they of Israel.--And all Israel became (came to). The numbers are different in Samuel, which states them as 800,000 for Israel and 500,000 for Judah. The latter may fairly be regarded as a round number (500,000), our text giving the more exact total (470,000). As to the former, we may assume that the 1,100,000 of our text is an error of transcription, or, more probably, that the traditions respecting this census varied, as may easily have happened, inasmuch as the numbers were not registered in the royal archives (1Chronicles 27:24). Perhaps, however, our estimate includes the standing army of David, reckoned (1Chronicles 27:1-15) at a total of 288,000 men (in round numbers, 300,000); thus 800,000 (Sam.) + 300,000 = 1,100.000 (Chron.).

Verse 5. - The report of the numbers as given in this verse does not tally with that of the parallel place. Here they are three hundred thousand more for Israel, and thirty thousand fewer for Judah, than there. No really satisfactory explanation of these discrepancies has yet appeared. The somewhat ingenious suggestion that the Chronicle-compiler counted in the standing army (two hundred and eighty-eight thousand, 1 Chronicles 27:1-15) for Israel, and omitted from Judah a supposed "thirty thousand," under the head of "the thirty" of our ch. 11; while the writer of the Book of Samuel did exactly the converse, - can scarcely pass muster, although it must be noticed that it would meet in the main the exigencies of the case. A likelier suggestion might be found in a comparison of the statements of our ver. 6 compared with 1 Chronicles 27:22-24. Indeed, the last sentence of this last-quoted verse (1 Chronicles 27:24) may possibly contain the explanation of all (cutup. Numbers 1:47-50; Numbers 2:33). That Joab utterly refused to number Levi, because this was a thing most distinctly prohibited (and further because it was not material to David's presumable objects), was quite to be expected. And though Joab is said in the following verse not to have numbered Benjamin, it is possible enough that he may have known this number (1 Chronicles 7:6-11). Yet see what follows.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

reported
וַיִּתֵּ֥ן (way·yit·tên)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

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

David
דָּוִ֑יד (dā·wîḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

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

number
מִפְקַד־ (mip̄·qaḏ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4662: An appointment, mandate, a designated spot, a census

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

In all
כָֽל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

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

there were
וַיְהִ֣י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

1,100,000
אֶ֣לֶף (’e·lep̄)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 505: A thousand

men
אִישׁ֙ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

who drew
שֹׁ֣לֵֽף (šō·lêp̄)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8025: To pull out, up, off

the sword,
חֶ֔רֶב (ḥe·reḇ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

including 470,000
אַרְבַּע֩ (’ar·ba‘)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 702: Four

in Judah.
וִֽיהוּדָ֕ה (wî·hū·ḏāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 21:5 Joab gave up the sum (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 21:4
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