1 Chronicles 21:5

KJV

And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all [they of] Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah [was] four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Joab {H3097} gave {H5414} the sum {H4557} of the number {H4662} of the people {H5971} unto David {H1732}. And all they of Israel {H3478} were a thousand {H505} thousand {H505} and an hundred {H3967} thousand {H505} men {H376} that drew {H8025} sword {H2719}: and Judah {H3063} was four {H702} hundred {H3967} threescore and ten {H7657} thousand {H505} men {H376} that drew {H8025} sword {H2719}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yo'av reported the results of the census to David: in Isra'el were 1,100,000 men who could handle a sword, while Y'hudah had 470,000 men who could handle a sword.

Berean Standard Bible

And Joab reported to David the total number of the troops. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, including 470,000 in Judah.

American Standard Version

And 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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Chronicles 21:5 precisely records the outcome of King David's ill-advised census, detailing the formidable military strength of the united kingdom of Israel and Judah. It specifies that Joab, David's commander, reported 1,100,000 men from Israel and 470,000 men from Judah who were capable of drawing a sword, thereby quantifying the vast human resources available to the monarchy, an act that would soon incur severe divine judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment within the narrative of David's census, serving as the culmination of the disobedient act initiated by Satan and consented to by David. The preceding verses establish the context: [Satan incites David to number Israel](/1_chronicles/21-1 "1 Chronicles 21:1 - Satan Incites David"), and despite the strong and prophetic objections from Joab, his military commander, David insists on proceeding ([1 Chronicles 21:3](/1_chronicles/21-3 "1 Chronicles 21:3 - Joab's Objections to the Census")). Verse 5, therefore, presents the final, tangible result of this census, the very data that immediately precedes the divine judgment that follows in the subsequent verses, where [God sends a plague upon Israel](/1_chronicles/21-14 "1 Chronicles 21:14 - The Plague on Israel"). It transitions the narrative from the act of disobedience to its dire consequences, setting the stage for God's righteous response.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The census takes place during the height of David's reign as king over a united Israel. While censuses were not inherently forbidden (e.g., the censuses in [Numbers 1](/numbers/1 "Numbers 1 - The First Census of Israel") and [Numbers 26](/numbers/26 "Numbers 26 - The Second Census of Israel") were divinely commanded), David's census here is presented as an act of sin. The sin likely stemmed from David's pride, a desire to boast in the nation's military might and human resources rather than trusting solely in God's covenant faithfulness and power. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a king's strength was often measured by the size of his army, making this census a potential display of self-reliance over divine dependence. The phrase "men that drew sword" refers to able-bodied men fit for military service, ready for combat, highlighting the military focus of the count. It is worth noting the numerical discrepancy with the parallel account in [2 Samuel 24:9](/2_samuel/24-9 "2 Samuel 24:9 - Parallel Census Figures"), which lists 800,000 for Israel and 500,000 for Judah. Scholars often attribute this to different counting methodologies (e.g., excluding certain standing armies or administrative divisions), or variations in textual transmission over time, rather than a contradiction in the core narrative.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within 1 Chronicles and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Sovereignty versus Human Pride**. David's decision to number the people, despite Joab's warnings, reveals a shift from trusting God's power to relying on human strength and numbers. The large figures presented in the verse emphasize the extent of this human reliance. Secondly, it highlights the **Consequences of Disobedience**. The very existence of these numbers is tied to an act of sin, directly leading to the divine judgment that follows. The census, and its outcome, becomes a catalyst for God's righteous anger and subsequent plague. Finally, it subtly reinforces the theme of **God's Unwavering Faithfulness**, even in judgment. While David's sin brings severe consequences, God's ultimate purpose for Israel and His covenant with David remain intact, demonstrating that even human failure cannot thwart His overarching plan.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sum (Hebrew, _miçpâr_):** This word refers to the "number" or "count" of something. In this context, it signifies the precise numerical result of the census, emphasizing the quantifiable nature of David's focus on human resources. It represents the data collected from the act of numbering, which was a source of pride and a deviation from trusting God's provision.
* **Thousand thousand (Hebrew, _ʾeleph ʾeleph_):** Literally "thousands of thousands," this repetition emphasizes the immense scale of the numbers reported. It is a hyperbolic way of expressing a very large number (1,000 x 1,000 = 1,000,000), underscoring the vastness of Israel's military potential and, by extension, the extent of David's human-centric focus.
* **Drew sword (Hebrew, _shâlaph chereb_):** This idiomatic phrase describes men who are capable of wielding a sword in battle, signifying their readiness for military service. It specifies that the census counted only those fit for combat, highlighting the military implications of David's census and the formidable fighting force he commanded.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David."**: This clause establishes Joab's reluctant fulfillment of David's command. Despite his earlier objections and warnings, Joab, as military commander, delivers the final, compiled statistics of the census to the king, marking the completion of the disobedient act.
* **"And all [they of] Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword:"**: This part specifies the numerical strength of the northern tribes of Israel. "A thousand thousand and an hundred thousand" translates to 1,100,000. This figure represents the vast pool of able-bodied men available for military conscription or combat from the tribes excluding Judah.
* **"and Judah [was] four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword."**: This final clause provides the count for the southern tribe of Judah. "Four hundred threescore and ten thousand" translates to 470,000. This figure, combined with that of Israel, highlights the total military potential of David's united kingdom, a strength that David was tempted to rely upon rather than God.

#### Literary Devices
The text in 1 Chronicles 21:5 primarily employs **Numerical Precision** to convey the sheer scale of David's military strength. The explicit listing of "a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand" for Israel and "four hundred threescore and ten thousand" for Judah provides concrete, large figures that emphasize the formidable human resources available to the king. This detailed enumeration serves to underscore the temptation David faced to trust in these impressive numbers rather than in God's power. Furthermore, there is an implicit **Contrast** between the vastness of these human numbers and the singular, all-powerful God whom David should have relied upon. The very act of counting, and the resulting large figures, are presented as a source of human pride, standing in stark contrast to the humility and dependence required for divine favor. Finally, the verse functions as **Foreshadowing**, as these numbers, a consequence of David's sin, immediately precede the narrative of divine judgment, signaling that the act of counting and the resulting strength would lead to severe repercussions rather than security.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Chronicles 21:5 serves as a powerful theological statement about the dangers of human pride and the critical importance of divine trust. The meticulous enumeration of Israel's fighting men, while seemingly a neutral statistic, is presented within the biblical narrative as the tangible outcome of an act of disobedience. David's sin was not merely in the act of counting, but in the heart behind it – a desire to rely on numerical strength and human might rather than the covenant faithfulness and omnipotence of God. This verse, therefore, highlights the fundamental theological truth that true security and strength come from God alone, not from impressive human resources or achievements. It warns against the temptation to find confidence in earthly metrics, reminding believers that reliance on anything other than God is a form of idolatry that invites divine displeasure.

* [2 Samuel 24:9](/2_samuel/24-9 "2 Samuel 24:9 - Parallel Account of the Census Figures")
* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction")
* [Psalm 20:7](/psalms/20-7 "Psalm 20:7 - Trust in the Lord, Not in Chariots or Horses")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The detailed census figures in 1 Chronicles 21:5, born of David's pride, offer a timeless lesson for believers today. In a world that constantly measures success by visible metrics—bank accounts, social media followers, career achievements, or even church attendance numbers—this passage calls us to a profound re-evaluation of where our trust lies. Just as David was tempted to rely on the formidable size of his army, we too can be subtly drawn into placing our confidence in our own abilities, resources, or the perceived strength of our institutions rather than in the living God. This verse challenges us to examine the "censuses" we take in our own lives: are we counting our blessings with gratitude, or are we counting our achievements with a subtle sense of self-reliance? True spiritual strength and security are found not in what we can quantify or control, but in humble, unwavering dependence on the Lord, recognizing that His power is made perfect in our weakness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Where do I tend to place my ultimate trust: in human resources, personal achievements, or divine power?**
* **What "numbers" or metrics in my life might I be tempted to boast in, rather than giving God the glory?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper, more consistent dependence on God in my daily walk, especially when facing challenges or opportunities?**

### FAQ
**Why did God get angry at David's census, if censuses were sometimes commanded in the Bible?**

Answer: God's anger was not directed at the act of counting people in itself, as censuses were indeed commanded at other times (e.g., in [Numbers 1](/numbers/1 "Numbers 1 - The First Census") and [Numbers 26](/numbers/26 "Numbers 26 - The Second Census") for military and organizational purposes). The sin in David's census, as implied by the narrative in [1 Chronicles 21:1](/1_chronicles/21-1 "1 Chronicles 21:1 - Satan Incites David"), stemmed from the heart and motivation behind it. It was likely an act of pride, a desire to boast in the nation's military might and human resources rather than trusting solely in God's covenant faithfulness and power. David sought security in numbers rather than in the Lord, possibly for military expansion or taxation without divine sanction, indicating a lack of reliance on God's provision and protection. Joab's strong objections ([1 Chronicles 21:3](/1_chronicles/21-3 "1 Chronicles 21:3 - Joab's Objections")) also suggest that the census was undertaken outside of God's will and for an unrighteous purpose.

**Why do the numbers in 1 Chronicles 21:5 differ from the parallel account in 2 Samuel 24:9?**

Answer: The numbers reported in [1 Chronicles 21:5](/1_chronicles/21-5 "1 Chronicles 21:5 - David's Census Figures") (1,100,000 for Israel and 470,000 for Judah) do differ from those in the parallel account in [2 Samuel 24:9](/2_samuel/24-9 "2 Samuel 24:9 - Parallel Census Figures") (800,000 for Israel and 500,000 for Judah). Scholars propose several plausible explanations for this discrepancy. One common theory is that different counting methodologies were used; for instance, one account might include standing armies or specific tribal levies that the other excludes, or perhaps certain administrative divisions were counted differently. Another possibility is that the numbers represent different stages of the census, or that one account refers to the total population eligible for service while the other refers to those actually mustered. Furthermore, textual transmission variations over centuries could also account for slight differences. Regardless of the precise reason, both accounts convey the immense scale of Israel's military potential and the underlying theological message about David's sin of pride.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of David's census in 1 Chronicles 21:5, with its focus on human numbers and the ensuing divine judgment, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. David's sin was a failure to trust God's provision, seeking security in the strength of his earthly kingdom. In stark contrast, Jesus, the greater Son of David, perfectly embodied absolute reliance on the Father. His kingdom is not of this world, nor is it built upon military might, human statistics, or impressive earthly armies, as He Himself declared in [John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom Not of This World"). Instead, Christ's power is demonstrated through humility, self-sacrifice, and spiritual authority. The "census" of Christ's kingdom is not a count of those who "draw sword" but a spiritual gathering of all nations, drawn by grace through the gospel, as commissioned in [Matthew 28:18-20](/matthew/28-18-20 "Matthew 28:18-20 - The Great Commission"). Where David sought glory in human strength, Christ emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, and was exalted by God ([Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5-8 "Philippians 2:5-8 - Christ's Humility and Exaltation")). The New Testament consistently highlights that God chooses the weak and foolish things of the world to shame the strong, so that no one may boast in His presence ([1 Corinthians 1:27-29](/1_corinthians/1-27-29 "1 Corinthians 1:27-29 - God chooses the weak")). Thus, 1 Chronicles 21:5, by illustrating the perils of human pride and reliance on earthly power, ultimately points to the perfect trust and divine strength found only in Christ, who establishes a kingdom not by might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 24:9

And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah [were] five hundred thousand men.

1 Chronicles 27:23

But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.