So David gave orders to Joab, the commander of his army: "Go with your officers through all the tribes of Israel from one end of the country to the other, and count the people. I want to know how many there are."

All the people of Israel from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, as well as from the land of Gilead in the east, answered the call. They gathered in one body in the LORD's presence at Mizpah.

I am going to give you so many descendants that no one will be able to count them all; it would be as easy to count all the specks of dust on earth!

I promise that I will give you as many descendants as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the seashore. Your descendants will conquer their enemies.

They came with all their soldiers---an army with as many men as there are grains of sand on the seashore. They also had many horses and chariots.

The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore; they ate and drank, and were happy.

from Benhadad: "I will bring enough men to destroy this city of yours and carry off the rubble in their hands. May the gods strike me dead if I don't!"

Now gather the rest of your forces, attack the city and take it yourself. I don't want to get the credit for capturing it."

But in the traps they set for others, they themselves get caught.

So they are punished by their own evil and are hurt by their own violence.

The LORD has revealed himself by his righteous judgments, and the wicked are trapped by their own deeds.