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1 Then Satan attacked Israel by inciting David to enumerate a census of Israel. 2 David ordered Joab and the commanders of the army, |Go take a census of Israel from Beer-sheba to Dan, and bring me a report so I can be aware of the total number.| 3 But Joab replied, |May the LORD increase the population of his people a hundredfold! Your majesty, all of them are your majesty's servants, aren't they? So why should your majesty demand this? Why should he bring guilt to Israel?| 4 But the king's order overruled Joab, so Joab left, traveled throughout all of Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem 5 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. 6 Levi and Benjamin were not included in the census, because what the king had commanded was unethical to Joab. 7 God considered this behavior to be evil, so he attacked Israel. 8 David responded to God, |I sinned greatly by behaving this way. But now I am asking you, please remove the guilt of your servant, since I have acted very foolishly.| 1 Chronicles 21:1-8, Intl. Standard Version. Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation.
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