2 Samuel 24:3
ESV
But Joab said to the king, "May the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king still see it, but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?"
NIV
But Joab replied to the king, "May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?"
NASB
But Joab said to the king, 'May the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king can still see; but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?'
CSB
Joab replied to the king, "May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times more than they are —while my lord the king looks on! But why does my lord the king want to do this?"
NLT
But Joab replied to the king, 'May the Lord your God let you live to see a hundred times as many people as there are now! But why, my lord the king, do you want to do this?'
KJV
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?
NKJV
And Joab said to the king, “Now may the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times more than there are, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king desire this thing?”
What does 2 Samuel 24:3 mean?
David has ordered Joab and the other regular army commanders to take a census of their reserve force: all the men of Israel who are of age to fight (2 Samuel 24:1–2). The command is abhorrent to Joab (1 Chronicles 21:6), and he tries to talk David out of it. Probably, this is because Joab senses that the census is unnecessary.When David wants to know God's will, he goes to the priests (1 Samuel 23:9–12). When God wants David to know His will, he sends the prophets, like Nathan and Gad (2 Samuel 7:4–5; 12:1; 24:11). When David just needs some common sense, he can rely on a select few. One is Abigail (1 Samuel 25:18–35). The other is Joab.
Joab set up Uriah's death, although he wasn't happy about it (2 Samuel 11:14–21). He killed the rebellious Absalom against David's orders because it was the only reasonable thing to do (2 Samuel 18:5, 14–15). When David dramatically mourned his dead, traitorous son, Joab told him to control himself or lose the loyalty of men who risked their lives to ensure David returned to the throne (2 Samuel 19:1–7).
Now, Joab confronts David again, in front of the other generals. At this point, there had been no census that God had not ordained, Himself. One was for a tax to build the tabernacle (Exodus 30:11–16; 38:25–28). The other was to prepare for battle in the Promised Land (Numbers 1). We don't know why this census is bad or why God wants to use it to punish the Israelites. It might be that the Israelites have more faith in their army than their God, and that David wants to know how much he can tax the people to build the temple.
The phrase "the Lord your God" doesn't mean Joab doesn't worship YHWH. If he didn't, he wouldn't worry about YHWH's response to David's command. "While the eyes of my lord the king still sees it" might mean that David's sight is failing, but it might also just mean Joab wants it to happen in David's lifetime.
