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2 Samuel 24:3

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 24:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Joab said unto the king, Now Jehovah thy God add unto the people, how many soever they may be, a hundredfold; and may the eyes of my lord the king see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Joab said unto the king, Now Jehovah thy God add unto the people, how many soever they may be, a hundredfold; and may the eyes of my lord the king see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?
2 Samuel 24:3 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 24

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1And again the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah.
2And the king said to Joab the captain of the host, who was with him, Go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the sum of the people.
3And Joab said unto the king, Now Jehovah thy God add unto the people, how many soever they may be, a hundredfold; and may the eyes of my lord the king see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?
4Notwithstanding, the king`s word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.
5And they passed over the Jordan, and encamped in Aroer, on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the valley of Gad, and unto Jazer:
6then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan, and round about to Sidon,
← 2 Samuel 24:22 Samuel 24:4 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Joab said unto the king, etc.] Not so rudely and insolently as he did on account of his mourning for Absalom, but in a more modest, decent, and polite manner: now the Lord thy God add unto the people (how many soever they be) an hundredfold; he wished his subjects were an hundred times more numerous than they were: and that the eyes of my lord the king may see [it]; that he might live to see with his own eyes so great an increase: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing? he being now old, and therefore it might seem strange to indulge such curiosity, pride, and vanity, and besides quite needless and useless: the numbering of them would not make them more or less; and they…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“24:3 why . . . do you want to do this? Joab either realized that such a move would be unpopular among the people, or he believed that it was wrong before God.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Sa2 10:12; Ch1 21:3, Ch1 21:4; Psa 115:14; Pro 14:28; Isa 60:5 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 24:4”
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Related study paths

Read 2 Samuel 24 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification