Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Chronicles 21:2

"And David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring me word, that I may know the sum of them." — 1 Chronicles 21:2 (ASV)

And to the rulers (captains) of the people. —Omitted in Samuel, which reads, Joab, the captain of the host, who was with him. The captains of the host are, however, associated in the work of the census with Joab (2 Samuel 24:4). The fact that Joab and his staff were deputed to take the census seems to prove that it was of a military character.

Go. —Plural.

Number. — Enrol, or register (sifrû). A different word (mânâh) is used in 1 Chronicles 21:1, and in the parallel place. Samuel has, Run over, I pray, all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, using the very word (shût) which, in the prologue of Job (1 Chronicles 1:7; 1 Chronicles 2:2), Satan uses of his own wanderings over the earth.

From Beersheba even to Dan. —As if the party were to proceed from south to north (see 1 Chronicles 21:4). The reverse order is usual (1 Samuel 3:20).