1 Chronicles 21:5 Meaning and Explanation
“And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Joab reports the totals: a vast number of fighting men across Israel and Judah.
What Does 1 Chronicles 21:5 Mean?
The figures are delivered. "A thousand thousand" is a million, with another hundred thousand from Israel, and Judah numbering four hundred seventy thousand men able to bear arms. Together they form an immense fighting force.
The numbers are staggering, and that is the point. David sought to measure his strength, and the strength is real. Yet sheer size never secured Israel; the Lord did. Counting the army can tempt a people to trust the count rather than the God who multiplies and protects. What can be tallied is never the true source of safety.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Chronicles 21:5
What does 1 Chronicles 21:5 mean?
Joab reports the totals: a vast number of fighting men across Israel and Judah.