2 Samuel 19:41 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, "Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away and brought the king and his household over the Jordan, and all David 's men with him?"

NIV: Soon all the men of Israel were coming to the king and saying to him, "Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Jordan, together with all his men?"

NASB: And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, 'Why have our brothers, the men of Judah, abducted you and brought the king and his household and all David’s men with him, over the Jordan?'

CSB: Suddenly, all the men of Israel came to the king. They asked him, "Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and transport the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all of David’s men?"

NLT: But all the men of Israel complained to the king, 'The men of Judah stole the king and didn’t give us the honor of helping take you, your household, and all your men across the Jordan.'

KJV: And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?

NKJV: Just then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, “Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king, his household, and all David’s men with him across the Jordan?”

Second Samuel 19:41–43 is filled with hypocrisy. David's son Absalom convinced the tribes to make him king (2 Samuel 15:1–6). Despite their smaller numbers, David's forces won easily (2 Samuel 18:9–10). The elders of "Israel"—the ten northern tribes—argued about what to do but eventually reaffirmed their fealty to David (2 Samuel 19:9–10). Meanwhile, David shamed Judah into welcoming him home (2 Samuel 19:11–15). Now, Israel and Judah argue over who loves David, the king they rebelled against, more. Before long, Israel will join a new and very short rebellion (2 Samuel 20:1–2).

David comes home after a tragic and costly rebellion. His son Absalom is dead, and rebel fighters have fled back home (2 Samuel 18). David falls into self-indulgent grief until Joab reminds him of his soldiers' honor. On the journey back to the Jordan, David reconciles with Shimei, Mephibosheth, and the elders of Judah, and blesses Barzillai. The elders of the northern tribes arrive and argue with Judah over who loves the king more—the king they tried to kill. The first chance they get, the men from Israel leave and try to start another rebellion (2 Samuel 20:1–2).

David's son, Absalom, manipulated the elders of the tribes, convincing them that he would make a better king than David (2 Samuel 15—17). During the one-day civil war, Joab killed Absalom, against David's orders (2 Samuel 18). David falls into a very public expression of mourning until Joab tells him to honor his living servants, not his dead, traitorous son. On the way to Jerusalem, David tries to forgive his enemies. The elders of Israel claim to welcome him back. But after squabbling with the elders from Judah, they join a new rebellion (2 Samuel 10:1–2).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.