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 21:5KJV
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1 Chronicles 21:5 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 21:5 mean?

1 Chronicles 21:5 reports the results of a census: Joab tells King David that there are 1,100,000 men in Israel and 470,000 men in Judah who are able to fight with swords. This verse gives the total number of fighting men counted in David’s military census.

Joab, David’s military commander, is speaking to David after completing the count of the people. The focus is on the number of men “that drew sword,” meaning those eligible for battle. This census was a major event in David’s reign, and the large numbers show the military strength of Israel and Judah at that time.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 21:5

  • “sum” (מִסְפַּר, mispar): This word means the total or tally, emphasizing that Joab is reporting a precise count, not just an estimate.
  • “drew sword” (שָׁלַף, shalaf; חֶרֶב, cherev): The phrase means “pulled out a sword,” describing men who are able and ready to fight, not just all adult males.
  • “thousand” (אֶלֶף, eleph) and “hundred” (מֵאָה, me’ah): These words are used repeatedly, showing the focus on large, rounded military units, which was typical for ancient censuses.

Why 1 Chronicles 21:5 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the census was specifically about military strength, not a general population count, which helps explain why only fighting men are included.
  • The distinction between Israel and Judah in the numbers highlights the divided structure of the kingdom even during David’s reign, which becomes more important in later biblical history.
  • The context of this census is significant because, in the surrounding passage, the act of counting the people leads to serious consequences, showing that this was not just an administrative detail but a spiritually weighty event.

Where else these words appear

“number” Hebrew H4662 · used in 4 verses

  • 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.
  • 2 Chronicles 31:13 And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.
  • Ezekiel 43:21 Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house, without the sanctuary.

“drew” Hebrew H8025 · used in 24 verses

  • Numbers 22:23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
  • Judges 20:2 And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.
  • 1 Samuel 17:51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

“ten” Hebrew H7657 · used in 90 verses

  • Genesis 4:24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
  • Numbers 7:73 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
  • 2 Chronicles 2:2 And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.

“Joab” Hebrew H3097 · used in 124 verses

  • 1 Samuel 26:6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
  • 2 Samuel 14:21 And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.
  • 2 Samuel 24:3 And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?