John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which [was] with him , etc.] Or who was with him, even Joab, who was now at court, and was a counsellor of David, as well as his general; or which army was with Joab, a standing army he had the command of: go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba ; from the northern part of the land of Israel to the southern part of it, and this course was accordingly steered, ( 2 Samuel 24:6,7); and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people ; so that this appears to be done not through any urgent necessity, but merely out of curiosity, and to gratify the pride of his heart, and please himself with the thought of ruling such a numerous people, and brag of their numbers to other nations, and place his confidence therein; and no wonder it was displeasing to the Lord.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - For the people's sin David was left to act wrong, and in his chastisement they received punishment. This example throws light upo God's government of the world, and furnishes a useful lesson. The prid of David's heart, was his sin in numbering of the people. He though thereby to appear the more formidable, trusting in an arm of flesh mor than he should have done, and though he had written so much of trustin in God only. God judges not of sin as we do. What appears to u harmless, or, at least, but a small offence, may be a great sin in the eye of God, who discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. Eve ungodly men can discern evil tempers and wrong conduct in believers, of which they themselves often remain unconscious. But God seldom allow those whom he loves the pleasures they sinfully covet.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 המלך4428 אל413 יואב3097 שׂר8269 החיל2428 אשׁר834 אתו854 שׁוט7751 נא4994 בכל3605 שׁבטי7626 ישׂראל3478 מדן1835 ועד5704 באר שׁבע884 ופקדו6485 את853 העם5971 וידעתי3045 את853 מספר4557 העם׃5971
