1 Tawarikh 21:3-4

21:3 Joab replied, “May the Lord make his army ¹  a hundred times larger! My master, O king, do not all of them serve my master? Why does my master want to do this? Why bring judgment on Israel?” ² 

21:4 But the king’s edict stood, despite Joab’s objections. ³  So Joab left and traveled throughout Israel before returning to Jerusalem. ⁴ 

[21:3]  ¹ tn Or “people.”

[21:3]  ² tn Heb “Why should it become guilt for Israel?” David’s decision betrays an underlying trust in his own strength rather than in divine provision. See also 1 Chr 27:23-24.

[21:4]  ³ tn Heb “and the word of the king was stronger than Joab.”

[21:4]  ⁴ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.