1 chronicles 21:6 - But he didn’t count Levi and Benjamin among them; for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.
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What does "1 chronicles 21:6" mean?
This verse from 1 Chronicles 21:6 refers to a census that King David ordered Joab, his military commander, to take of the fighting men in Israel. The verse explains why Joab didn't count the tribes of Levi and Benjamin:
"But he didn’t count Levi and Benjamin among them...": This means that Joab did not include the members of the tribes of Levi and Benjamin in the count of able-bodied fighting men.
"...for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.": This is the key to understanding why he disobeyed David's command. Joab considered David's order to take a census to be morally wrong ("abominable"). The reasons behind this are not explicitly stated in this verse, but the broader context of the chapter and other passages provides some insight:
Distrust of God: Many commentators interpret David's desire for a census as stemming from pride or a reliance on the strength of his army rather than on God's power. God had promised to make Israel numerous, and counting the people could be seen as an attempt to take credit for this blessing or to exert control that belonged to God.
Potential for Taxation and Forced Conscription: A census could lead to increased taxation or forced conscription into the army, which could be burdensome on the people.
Divine Judgment: The Bible indicates that taking a census could bring divine judgment upon the people. This is what ultimately happened in this situation, as God sent a plague upon Israel after the census was completed (except for the parts Joab hadn't counted).
Levi and Benjamin:
Levi: The tribe of Levi was designated for religious service and were not typically involved in warfare.
Benjamin: Benjamin was the tribe to which the city of Jerusalem belonged, and which would have been responsible for the city's protection. Also, Benjamin was Saul's tribe, so Joab, who was loyal to David, may have wanted to avoid causing any problems for the tribe.
In essence, the verse highlights Joab's moral objection to David's command. He felt it was wrong and potentially harmful to the people, so he deliberately disobeyed the king in this particular aspect by not including the tribes of Levi and Benjamin in the census.
1 chronicles 21:6 - But he didn’t count Levi and Benjamin among them; for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.
What does "1 chronicles 21:6" mean?
This verse from 1 Chronicles 21:6 refers to a census that King David ordered Joab, his military commander, to take of the fighting men in Israel. The verse explains why Joab didn't count the tribes of Levi and Benjamin:
"But he didn’t count Levi and Benjamin among them...": This means that Joab did not include the members of the tribes of Levi and Benjamin in the count of able-bodied fighting men.
"...for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.": This is the key to understanding why he disobeyed David's command. Joab considered David's order to take a census to be morally wrong ("abominable"). The reasons behind this are not explicitly stated in this verse, but the broader context of the chapter and other passages provides some insight:
Distrust of God: Many commentators interpret David's desire for a census as stemming from pride or a reliance on the strength of his army rather than on God's power. God had promised to make Israel numerous, and counting the people could be seen as an attempt to take credit for this blessing or to exert control that belonged to God.
Potential for Taxation and Forced Conscription: A census could lead to increased taxation or forced conscription into the army, which could be burdensome on the people.
Divine Judgment: The Bible indicates that taking a census could bring divine judgment upon the people. This is what ultimately happened in this situation, as God sent a plague upon Israel after the census was completed (except for the parts Joab hadn't counted).
Levi and Benjamin:
Levi: The tribe of Levi was designated for religious service and were not typically involved in warfare.
Benjamin: Benjamin was the tribe to which the city of Jerusalem belonged, and which would have been responsible for the city's protection. Also, Benjamin was Saul's tribe, so Joab, who was loyal to David, may have wanted to avoid causing any problems for the tribe.
In essence, the verse highlights Joab's moral objection to David's command. He felt it was wrong and potentially harmful to the people, so he deliberately disobeyed the king in this particular aspect by not including the tribes of Levi and Benjamin in the census.