2 Samuel 24:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Joab blesses the king with the wish for a hundredfold increase, yet questions why David delights in this counting.
What Does 2 Samuel 24:3 Mean?
Joab, often a hard and pragmatic figure, here speaks as the voice of caution. He pronounces a generous blessing, that God would multiply the people a hundredfold while the king yet lives to see it, and then presses the searching question: why does my lord delight in this thing?
Sometimes warning comes from unexpected lips. Joab senses that the census springs from something other than faith, and his question lingers over the whole episode. It is a mercy when a friend or counselor asks us why we want what we want. Wisdom listens to such questions; David, in this moment, does not, and the cost will be great.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 24:3
What does 2 Samuel 24:3 mean?
Joab blesses the king with the wish for a hundredfold increase, yet questions why David delights in this counting.