David Numbers Israel

Satan instigated the pride and ambition that led Israel's king to promote procedures to increase the size of his army for the purpose of extending the boundaries of Israel by new military conquests. David decided to take a count of the number of Israel. There is nothing in the narrative to indicate precisely when in the life of David this incident took place. The fact that Joab was engaged in the work for almost ten months (v. 8) shows that it must have been at a time of freedom from war. In the parallel account (1 Chron. 24:21) the narrative is immediately followed by the record of David's preparations for the building of the Temple.

In both Samuel and Chronicles these preparations are among the last items to be recorded for David's reign. All this leads to the conclusion that the military census took place toward the end of David's reign. Joab was a hardened and unscrupulous general, but even he could see that the taking of such a census was out of keeping with the fundamental principles of the Hebrew monarchy. By a number of questions he endeavored to cause David to recognize the folly of his course.

As the census was under way, David began to think over the implications of what he had done and to realize that he was making a mistake. It was the Spirit of God that spoke to him and showed him the folly of his course. In deep humility he confessed his mistake before God and asked for forgiveness.