1 Chronicles 21:6But he didn't count Levi and Benjamin among them; for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~1000 BC. King David orders a military census despite knowing it violates God's law. His commander Joab refuses to count all tribes, showing even soldiers sometimes have better judgment than kings.
The emotion here: recording a shameful moment with painful honesty
The original word
to'evah (תּוֹעֵבָה) — abomination, something that violates God's order and brings disaster
Why it matters
Levi and Benjamin were strategically excluded - Levi as priests were uncountable, Benjamin as David's smallest tribe was too precious to risk
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Chronicles 21:6
Joab, a hardened military commander, had more spiritual sensitivity than the 'man after God's heart'
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about Joab being rebellious, but he was actually showing more spiritual wisdom than King David by refusing to complete an ungodly census.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Chronicles 21:6
Bible Genome reading
1 Chronicles 21:6 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Chronicles 21:6 comes from the book of 1 Chronicles, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include conscience, moral resistance. Notable phrases: didn't count Levi; abominable to Joab.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does 1 Chronicles 21:6 mean to you, today?
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