Why was Joab’s census count not entered in David’s chronicles?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Joab began counting but did not finish because wrath fell upon Israel over it; therefore the count was not registered. David also refused to number those aged 20 and under because of God’s promise to multiply Israel like heaven’s stars.

Chapter breakdown

The chapter lists monthly captains, tribal princes and David’s other officers.

Israel’s family heads, captains of thousands and hundreds, and officers served the king in companies that came in and went out each month of the year, with 24,000 under each chief. In the first month Jesboam son of Zabdiel was chief over 24,000; he was of Phares’s sons and chief of all the captains in the host that month. The second month’s company was under Dudia, an Ahohite; after him Macelloth commanded a part of the army of 24,000. The third company was under Banaias son of Joiada the priest, with 24,000. This Banaias was most valiant among the thirty and above the thirty; his son Amizabad commanded his company. Fourth was Asahel, Joab’s brother, followed by his son Zabadias, with 24,000.

Each following company also numbered 24,000. The fifth month’s captain was Samaoth a Jezerite; sixth Hira son of Acces, a Thecuite; seventh Helles a Phallonite of Ephraim’s sons; eighth Sobochai a Husathite of Zarahi’s race; ninth Abiezer an Anathothite of Jemini’s sons; tenth Marai a Netophathite of Zarai’s race; eleventh Banaias a Pharathonite of Ephraim’s sons; twelfth Holdai a Netophathite of Gothoniel’s race.

The tribal chiefs were Eliezer son of Zechri over the Rubenites; Saphatias son of Maacha over the Simeonites; Hasabias son of Camuel over the Levites; Sadoc over the Aaronites; Eliu, David’s brother, over Juda; Amri son of Michael over Issachar; Jesmaias son of Adias over the Zabulonites; Jerimoth son of Ozriel over the Nephtalites; Osee son of Ozaziu over Ephraim’s sons; Joel son of Phadaia over the half tribe of Manasses; Jaddo son of Zacharias over the half tribe of Manasses in Galaad; Jasiel son of Abner over Benjamin; and Ezrihel son of Jeroham over Dan. These were princes of Israel’s children.

David would not number those aged 20 and under because the Lord had said he would multiply Israel like heaven’s stars. Joab son of Sarvia began numbering but did not finish, because wrath fell upon Israel over this. Therefore the number of those counted was not registered in King David’s chronicles.

Azmoth son of Adiel was over the king’s treasures. Jonathan son of Ozias was over stores in cities, villages and castles. Ezri son of Chelub was over tillage and the husbandmen working the ground. Semeias a Romathite was over vineyard workers, and Zabdias an Aphonite over wine cellars. Balanam a Gederite was over oliveyards and fig groves in the plains, and Joas over oil cellars. Setrai a Saronite was over herds feeding in Saron; Saphat son of Adli over valley oxen; Ubil an Ishmahelite over camels; Jadias a Meronathite over asses; and Jaziz an Agarene over sheep. These were rulers of King David’s substance.

Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a wise and learned counsellor. He and Jahiel son of Hachamoni were with the king’s sons. Achitophel was the king’s counsellor, and Chusai the Arachite his friend. After Achitophel were Joiada son of Banaias and Abiathar. Joab was general of the king’s army.

The story inside

The chapter records the king’s service through named monthly companies, each with 24,000, and then names the tribal chiefs. Within this account of numbers and officers it sets a limit on the census. David excludes those 20 and under for the stated promise of Israel’s multiplication. Joab’s numbering remains unfinished because wrath falls upon Israel, and the count is left out of David’s chronicles. The account then turns to the king’s substance, distinguishing treasures and local stores from farming, vineyards, cellars, groves and animals. It closes with named counsellors, those with the king’s sons, the king’s friend and Joab as army general.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The monthly roster keeps both appointments and relationships. Macelloth follows Dudia, Amizabad commands his father Banaias’s company, and Zabadias follows Asahel. The repeated 24,000 belongs to each company; no economic reason, conscription rule or claim about hereditary tribal offices is stated.
2
The census limit includes age 20 itself. The text says 20 and under, while the unfinished numbering has its own stated cause: wrath upon Israel. Its count is not registered in the chronicles. Keeping these points distinct prevents changing the age boundary or making the promise the reason Joab stopped.
3
The officers have particular responsibilities rather than one general stewardship role. The chapter names separate workers over wine and oil, herds and valley oxen, and other stores and animals. It also distinguishes Jonathan son of Ozias from David’s uncle Jonathan, and calls Chusai the king’s friend. These assignments do not establish economic success or a peaceful succession.

Test your recall

Companies come in and go out monthly → each named chief has 24,000. God promises Israel’s multiplication like heaven’s stars → David does not count those 20 and under. Wrath falls upon Israel over Joab’s numbering → he does not finish and the count is not registered. The king’s substance has separate kinds of stores, land and animals → named officers have distinct charges. The closing roster names counsel, company with the king’s sons and friendship → Joab is separately identified as army general.

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 44041–44045
1 Paralipomenon Chapter 27 The twelve captains for every month; the twelve princes of the tribes. David’s several officers.
Lines 44046–44071
27:1. Now the children of Israel according to their number, the heads of families, captains of thousands and of hundreds, and officers, that served the king according to their companies, who came in and went out every month in the year, under every chief were four and twenty thousand. 27:2. Over the first company the first month Jesboam, the son of Zabdiel was chief, and under him were four and twenty thousand. 27:3. Of the sons of Phares, the chief of all the captains in the host in the first month. 27:4. The company of the second month was under Dudia, an Ahohite, and after him was another named Macelloth, who commanded a part of the army of four and twenty thousand. 27:5. And the captain of the third company for the third month, was Banaias the son of Joiada the priest: and in his division were four and twenty thousand. 27:6. This is that Banaias the most valiant among the thirty, and above the thirty. And Amizabad his son commanded his company. 27:7. The fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zabadias his son after him: and in his company were four and twenty thousand.
Lines 44073–44098
27:8. The fifth captain for the fifth month, was Samaoth a Jezerite: and his company were four and twenty thousand. 27:9. The sixth, for the sixth month, was Hira the son of Acces a Thecuite: and in his company were four and twenty thousand. 27:10. The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helles a Phallonite of the sons of Ephraim: and in his company were four and twenty thousand. 27:11. The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sobochai a Husathite of the race of Zarahi: and in his company were four and twenty thousand. 27:12. The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer an Anathothite of the sons of Jemini, and in his company were four and twenty thousand. 27:13. The tenth, for the tenth month, was Marai, who was a Netophathite of the race of Zarai: and in his company were four and twenty thousand. 27:14. The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Banaias, a Pharathonite of the sons of Ephraim: and in his company were four and twenty thousand. 27:15. The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Holdai a Netophathite, of the race of Gothoniel: and in his company were four and twenty thousand.
Lines 44100–44120
27:16. Now the chiefs over the tribes of Israel were these: over the Rubenites, Eliezer the son of Zechri was ruler: over the Simeonites, Saphatias the son of Maacha: 27:17. Over the Levites, Hasabias the son of Camuel: over the Aaronites, Sadoc: 27:18. Over Juda, Eliu the brother of David over Issachar, Amri the son of Michael: 27:19. Over the Zabulonites, Jesmaias the son of Adias: over the Nephtalites, Jerimoth the son of Ozriel: 27:20. Over the sons of Ephraim, Osee the son of Ozaziu: over the half tribe of Manasses, Joel the son of Phadaia: 27:21. And over the half tribe of Manasses in Galaad, Jaddo the son of Zacharias: and over Benjamin, Jasiel the son of Abner. 27:22. And over Dan, Ezrihel the son of Jeroham: these were the princes of the children of Israel.
Lines 44122–44129
27:23. But David would not number them from twenty years old and under: because the Lord had said that he would multiply Israel like the stars of heaven. 27:24. Joab the son of Sarvia began to number, but he finished not: because upon this there fell wrath upon Israel: and therefore the number of them that were numbered, was not registered in the chronicles of king David.
Lines 44131–44151
27:25. And over the king’s treasures was Azmoth the son of Adiel: and over those stores which were in the cities, and in the villages, and, in the castles, was Jonathan the son of Ozias. 27:26. And over the tillage, and the husbandmen, who tilled the ground, was Ezri the son of Chelub: 27:27. And over the dressers of the vine yards, was Semeias a Romathite: and over the wine cellars, Zabdias an Aphonite. 27:28. And over the oliveyards and the fig groves, which were in the plains, was Balanam a Gederite: and over the oil cellars, Joas. 27:29. And over the herds that fed in Saron, was Setrai a Saronite: and over the oxen in the valleys, Saphat the son of Adli: 27:30. And over the camels, Ubil an Ishmahelite and over the asses, Jadias a Meronathite: 27:31. And over the sheep Jaziz an Agarene. All these were the rulers of the substance of king David.
Lines 44153–44162
27:32. And Jonathan David’s uncle, a counsellor, a wise and learned man: he and Jahiel the son of Hachamoni were with the king’s sons. 27:33. And Achitophel was the king’s counsellor, and Chusai the Arachite, the king’s friend. 27:34. And after Achitophel was Joiada the son of Banaias, and Abiathar. And the general of the king’s army was Joab.