1 Chronicles 21:3 Meaning and Explanation
“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?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Joab objects, blessing Israel's increase and warning that the census will bring guilt upon the nation.
What Does 1 Chronicles 21:3 Mean?
Joab, no stranger to hard deeds, becomes the voice of conscience. He prays for Israel's growth a hundredfold, then presses the king with questions: the people already belong to David, so why this count, and why invite guilt upon them all?
Wisdom sometimes arrives from unexpected lips. Joab senses what David has missed, that the act will become "a cause of trespass." His warning shows that godly counsel is a mercy, and that even a king is meant to heed correction. To refuse a faithful word of caution is often the first step into the very harm it foresaw.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Chronicles 21:3
What does 1 Chronicles 21:3 mean?
Joab objects, blessing Israel's increase and warning that the census will bring guilt upon the nation.