King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
Complete Jewish Bible:
But he didn't count Levi and Binyamin among them, because the king's order was hateful to Yo'av.
Berean Standard Bible:
But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the count, because the king’s command was detestable to him.
American Standard Version:
But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them; for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
But Levi{H3878} and Benjamin{H1144} counted{H6485} he not among{H8432} them: for the king's{H4428} word{H1697} was abominable{H8581} to Joab{H3097}.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Chronicles 27:24
- Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.
Numbers 1:47
- ¶ But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.
Numbers 1:49
- Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:
2 Samuel 11:15
- And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
2 Samuel 11:21
- Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
2 Samuel 3:27
- And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth [rib], that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
2 Samuel 20:9
- And Joab said to Amasa, [Art] thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
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Commentary for 1 Chronicles 21:6
1 Chronicles 21:6 is part of the narrative concerning King David's census of Israel, an event that takes place after a series of military victories have expanded the kingdom's territory. The verse reads, "But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab." This verse highlights a critical moment in the story where Joab, the commander of David's army, is executing the king's command to number the people of Israel, a task that would assess the kingdom's military strength and wealth.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the period of David's reign when he sought to take a census, which, according to the biblical account, was contrary to God's will. The act of counting the people was seen as a lack of trust in God's provision and protection, as it implied reliance on military strength rather than divine favor. The tribes of Levi and Benjamin were not counted, which could be for a few reasons. Levi was the priestly tribe, set apart for religious service, and thus exempt from military service. Benjamin, on the other hand, may have been omitted due to its small size or because of Joab's judgment that the king's command was improper, especially in light of the religious implications of counting the tribes.
The themes present in this verse include the tension between political power and divine law, the importance of trusting in God rather than human strength, and the role of the military in relation to the religious life of the nation. Joab's reluctance to include Levi and Benjamin reflects a recognition of the sacred boundaries that should not be crossed, even by a king's decree. The abominable nature of David's word to Joab underscores the gravity of the sin and sets the stage for the subsequent divine judgment that would afflict Israel, as the census leads to a choice of punishments from God, resulting in a great plague that affects the nation. This event serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of disobedience and the need for leaders to submit to divine authority.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3878
There are 61 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לֵוִי
Transliteration: Lêvîy
Pronunciation: lay-vee'
Description: from לָוָה; attached; Levi, a son of Jacob; Levi. See also לֵוִי, לֵוִיִּי. - Strong's Number: H1144
There are 156 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בִּנְיָמִין
Transliteration: Binyâmîyn
Pronunciation: bin-yaw-mene'
Description: from בֵּן and יָמִין; son of (the) right hand; Binjamin, youngest son of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; Benjamin. - Strong's Number: H6485
There are 270 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּקַד
Transliteration: pâqad
Pronunciation: paw-kad'
Description: a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.; appoint, [idiom] at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep, be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up, look, make, [idiom] by any means, miss, number, officer, (make) overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to) remember(-brance), set (over), sum, [idiom] surely, visit, want. - Strong's Number: H8432
There are 390 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תָּוֶךְ
Transliteration: tâvek
Pronunciation: taw'-vek
Description: from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre; among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in). - Strong's Number: H4428
There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: melek
Pronunciation: meh'-lek
Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. - Strong's Number: H1697
There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּבָר
Transliteration: dâbâr
Pronunciation: daw-baw'
Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work. - Strong's Number: H8581
There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תַּעָב
Transliteration: taʻâb
Pronunciation: taw-ab'
Description: a primitive root; to loathe, i.e. (morally) detest; (make to be) abhor(-red), (be, commit more, do) abominable(-y), [idiom] utterly. - Strong's Number: H3097
There are 124 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹאָב
Transliteration: Yôwʼâb
Pronunciation: yo-awb'
Description: from יְהֹוָה and אָב; Jehovah-fathered; Joab, the name of three Israelites; Joab.