2 Samuel 24:2 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →David commands Joab to count the people across the whole land, from north to south.
What Does 2 Samuel 24:2 Mean?
David gives the order to Joab, commander of the army, sending him through every tribe from Dan in the far north to Beersheba in the far south. The phrase marks the full extent of the kingdom. The stated aim is plain: that the king may know the number of his people.
The desire to measure one's strength can quietly become a desire to trust in it. David seeks to count the swordsmen of Israel, as if the security of the throne rested in numbers rather than in the God who had given every victory. The heart that totals its resources must ask whom it is really leaning upon, for confidence misplaced becomes a snare.
2 Samuel 24:2 in the Original Language
'from Dan even to Beersheba' -- a standard biblical expression marking the entire length of the land, north to south.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 24:2
What does 2 Samuel 24:2 mean?
David commands Joab to count the people across the whole land, from north to south.