"Is it wrong to take a census?" (Alleged Contradiction #E8868)
And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.
II Chronicles 2:17
And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. … And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. … So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.
II Samuel 24:1-17
See also: I Chronicles 21:2
Response
David numbered the “valiant men that drew the sword,” whereas Solomon “numbered all the strangers,” a big difference. David was numbering the people to determine his nation’s military strength, whereas Solomon was keeping immigration records.
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