1 Chronicles 21:2-4

Revised Standard Version

² So David said to Jo′ab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beer-sheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” ³ But Jo′ab said, “May the Lord add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord’s servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should he bring guilt upon Israel?” ⁴ But the king’s word prevailed against Jo′ab. So Jo′ab departed and went throughout all Israel, and came back to Jerusalem.