1 Chronicles 21:3

And Joab answered, The Lord make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

Cross-references

In 1 Chronicles 19:13, Joab says 'may the Lord do what seems good' — similar trust in God's will as his cautious reply here.

Deuteronomy 1:11 has Moses blessing Israel to be a thousand times more — Joab echoes this same blessing language in his objection.

2 Samuel 24:3 is the parallel account of the census where Joab gives the same speech almost verbatim.

In Proverbs 14:28, a king's glory is in many people — Joab argues the people are already the king's servants, making a census unnecessary.

In Psalm 115:14, the psalmist blesses with increase — Joab's wish for a hundredfold increase echoes this blessing.