Charles Spurgeon 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 David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.

He had become proud. He had begun to depend upon the number of his people.

In truth, it was a large population under his sway, five million or more. And he, who had been a shepherd lad, who in his early youth had trusted in his God, now thinking himself a great man, somewhat in the spirit of Nebuchadnezzar, begins to say, "Behold, this great kingdom that I have gathered and founded."