2Sa 24:2 | KD | STEP | David entrusted the task to his commander-in-chief Joab. אתּו אשׁר, “ who was with him: ” the meaning is, “when he was with him” (David). We are not warranted in attempting any emendations of the text, either by the expression אתּו אשׁר, or by the reading in the Chronicles, העם ועל־שׂרי (“and to the rulers of the people”); for whilst the latter reading may easily be seen to be a simplification founded upon , it is impossible to show how אתּו אשׁר שׂר־החיל, which is supported by all the ancient versions (with the sole exception of the Arabic), could have originated in העם ואל־שׂרי. “ Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba (see at Jdg 20:1), and muster the people .” פּקד, to muster or number, as in Num 1:44. The change from the singular שׁוּט to the plural פּקדוּ may be explained very simply, from the fact that, as a matter of course, Joab was not expected to take the census by himself, but with the help of several assistants.

‏ 2 Samuel 24:2

David entrusted the task to his commander-in-chief Joab. אתּו אשׁר, “who was with him:” the meaning is, “when he was with him” (David). We are not warranted in attempting any emendations of the text, either by the expression אתּו אשׁר, or by the reading in the Chronicles, העם ועל־שׂרי (“and to the rulers of the people”); for whilst the latter reading may easily be seen to be a simplification founded upon 2Sa 24:4, it is impossible to show how אתּו אשׁר שׂר־החיל, which is supported by all the ancient versions (with the sole exception of the Arabic), could have originated in העם ואל־שׂרי. “Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba (see at Jdg 20:1), and muster the people.” פּקד, to muster or number, as in Num 1:44. The change from the singular שׁוּט to the plural פּקדוּ may be explained very simply, from the fact that, as a matter of course, Joab was not expected to take the census by himself, but with the help of several assistants.