And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?
Joab replied, 'May the LORD multiply his people a hundred times more than they are now! But my lord the king, aren't they all your servants already? Why do you want to do this? Why would you bring guilt upon Israel?'
Joab is questioning King David's decision to count the people, warning him that this census could bring trouble and guilt to the nation.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, King David of Israel decides to conduct a census of his troops, which was a common practice in ancient times to assess military strength. However, Joab, David's commander, opposes this because he believes it shows a lack of trust in God and could provoke divine displeasure. This story highlights the tensions between human ambition and faithfulness to God in the context of ancient Israelite history.
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