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?
Why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel? - or bring an occasion of punishment on Israel. In Hebrew the word sin is often used synonymously with the punishment of sin. In the course of Providence the people frequently suffer for the misconduct of their rulers.