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1 Chronicles 21:3

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Chronicles 21:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Joab said, Jehovah make his people a hundred times as many as they are: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord`s servants? why doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of guilt unto Israel?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Joab said, Jehovah make his people a hundred times as many as they are: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord`s servants? why doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of guilt unto Israel?
1 Chronicles 21:3 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Chronicles 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1And Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.
2And David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring me word, that I may know the sum of them.
3And Joab said, Jehovah make his people a hundred times as many as they are: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord`s servants? why doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of guilt unto Israel?
4Nevertheless the king`s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.
5And Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.
6But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them; for the king`s word was abominable to Joab.
← 1 Chronicles 21:21 Chronicles 21:4 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?--or bring an occasion of punishment on Israel. In Hebrew, the word "sin" is often used synonymously with the punishment of sin. In the course of Providence, the people frequently suffer for the misconduct of their rulers.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Why, &c. - Or, why should this be a cause of trespass, or an occasion of punishment to Israel? God commonly punishes the people for the sins of their rulers, because they are for the most part guilty of their sins in one kind or other; or at least God takes this occasion to punish people for all their sins. 1 Chronicles 21:6”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“The Lord: Ch1 19:13; Psa 115:14; Pro 14:28; Isa 26:15, Isa 48:19 why will: Gen 20:9; Exo 32:21; Num 32:9, Num 32:10; Sa1 2:24; Kg1 14:16 1 Chronicles 21:4”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Chronicles 21 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification