1 Chronicles 21 · Verse 6

1 Chronicles 21:6

But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.
1 Chronicles 21:6, King James Version

1 Chronicles 21:6 in other translations

BSBBut Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the count, because the king’s command was detestable to him.
WEBBut he didn’t count Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.
ASVBut Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them; for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.
YLTAnd Levi and Benjamin he hath not numbered in their midst, for the word of the king was abominable with Joab.
DARBYBut Levi and Benjamin he did not count among them; for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
BBEBut Levi and Benjamin were not numbered among them, for Joab was disgusted with the king's order.
WebsterBut Levi and Benjamin he counted not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab.

What does 1 Chronicles 21:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. Levi and Benjamin counted he not--If this census was ordered with a view to the imposition of taxes, this alone would account for Levi, who were not warriors (1Ch 21:5), not being numbered (see on Nu 1:47-54). The population of Benjamin had been taken (see on 1Ch 7:6-11), and the register preserved in the archives of that tribe. This, however, was taken on another occasion, and by other agency than that of Joab. The non-numbering of these two tribes might have originated in the special and gracious providence of God, partly because Levi was devoted to His service, and Benjamin had become the least of all the tribes (Jud 21:1-25); and partly because God foresaw that they would remain faithful to the house of David in the division of the tribes, and therefore He would not have them diminished [Poole]. From the course followed in this survey (see on 2Sa 24:4-8), it would appear that Judah and Benjamin were the last tribes that were to be visited; and that, after the census in Judah had been finished, Joab, before entering on that of Benjamin, had to return to Jerusalem, where the king, now sensible of his great error, gave orders to stop all further proceedings in the business. Not only the remonstrance of Joab at the first, but his slow progress in the survey (2Sa 24:8) showed the strong repugnance and even horror of the old general at this unconstitutional measure.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 Levi and Benjamin counted he not - The rabbins give the following reason for this: Joab, seeing that this would bring down destruction upon the people, purposed to save two tribes. Should David ask, Why have you not numbered the Levites? Joab purposed to say, Because the Levites are not reckoned among the children of Israel. Should he ask, Why have you not numbered Benjamin? he would answer, Benjamin has been already sufficiently punished, on account of the treatment of the woman at Gibeah: if, therefore, this tribe were to be again punished, who would remain?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

1 Chronicles 21:6 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְלֵוִי֙ve.le.Viand LeviH3878
וּבִנְיָמִ֔ןu.vin.ya.Minand BenjaminH1144
לֹ֥אlo'notH3808
פָקַ֖דfa.Kadhe enrolledH6485
בְּתוֹכָ֑םbe.to.Khamin midst of themH8432
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
נִתְעַ֥בnit.'Avit was abhorredH8581
דְּבַר\־de.var-[the] word ofH1697
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H854
יוֹאָֽב\׃yo.'AvJoabH3097

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Chronicles 21:6

  • 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 1:47-49

    But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them. For the Lord had spoken unto Moses, saying, Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:

  • 2 Samuel 20:9-10

    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. But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

  • 2 Samuel 11:15-21

    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. And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also. Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; …

  • 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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Levi.
Nu 1:47-49
Joab.
2Sa 3:27; 11:15-21; 20:9,10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Chronicles 21:5

    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.

  • 1 Chronicles 21:6

    But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.

  • 1 Chronicles 21:7

    And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.

Read all of 1 Chronicles 21

1 Chronicles 21:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entre estos no fueron contados los Levitas, ni los hijos de Benjamín, porque Joab abominaba el mandamiento del rey.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais Lévi et Benjamin, il ne les dénombra pas au milieu d’eux; car la parole du roi était une abomination pour Joab.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Levi aber und Benjamin musterte er nicht unter ihnen; denn das Wort des Königs war Joab ein Greuel.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nam Levi et Benjamin non numeravit: eo quod Joab invitus exsequeretur regis imperium.