So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who [was] with him, "Now go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people."

So all the children of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba, as well as from the land of Gilead, and the congregation gathered together as one man before the LORD at Mizpah.

"And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, [then] your descendants also could be numbered.

"blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which [is] on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.

So they went out, they and all their armies with them, [as] many people [as] the sand that [is] on the seashore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots.

Judah and Israel [were] as numerous as the sand by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing.

Then Ben-Hadad sent to him and said, "The gods do so to me, and more also, if enough dust is left of Samaria for a handful for each of the people who follow me."

"Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called after my name."

He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch [which] he made.

His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.

The LORD is known [by] the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah