1 Satan attempted to attack Israel by provoking David to count the Israelites.
2 David said to Joab and the leaders of the people, “Go, count Israel from Beersheba to Dan. Bring me ⌊the results⌋ so that I may know how many ⌊people⌋ there are.”
3 Joab responded, “May the Lord multiply his people a hundred times over. But, Your Majesty, aren’t they all your servants? Why are you trying to do this? Why do you wish to make Israel guilty of ⌊this⌋ sin?”
4 However, the king overruled Joab. So Joab left, went throughout Israel, and returned to Jerusalem.