For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.
The king told Joab, the commander of his army who was with him, 'Go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, and count all the people so I can know how many there are.'
King David is ordering his military commander to conduct a census of all Israel so he can know the total population of his kingdom.
📚 Historical Context
This takes place near the end of David's reign when he had established Israel as a powerful kingdom. Dan and Beersheba were the traditional northern and southern boundaries of Israel, representing the entire nation. Taking a census was often done for military or taxation purposes, but in this context it appears to be motivated by pride or lack of trust in God's provision.
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