Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. (1 Chronicles 21:4)
The details concerning the taking of the census are not given in Chronicles. According to 2 Sam. 24:5-8, the census takers crossed the Jordan and worked north to Gilead and Dan, then across to Sidon, and south to Beersheba, and returned to Jerusalem after 9 months and 20 days.
The king’s word prevailed.
Unfortunately, those in authority are not always right, but it is their word that prevails. Joab was right and David was wrong.