But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.
But Joab did not count the tribes of Levi and Benjamin among them, because he found the king's command disgusting and wrong.
This verse shows that Joab was so disturbed by David's census order that he refused to count two of the tribes completely.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 1 Chronicles, King David ordered a census to count Israel's fighting men as a way to measure military strength, which reflected a growing reliance on human power rather than God's provision. This action displeased God and led to consequences for Israel, as it demonstrated a lack of faith. Joab, as David's army commander, reluctantly carried out the order but deliberately excluded the tribes of Levi and Benjamin, viewing the king's command as morally wrong and detestable.
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