2 Samuel 19:43 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, "We have ten shares in the king, and in David also we have more than you. Why then did you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?" But the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

NIV: Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, "We have ten shares in the king; so we have a greater claim on David than you have. Why then do you treat us with contempt? Weren’t we the first to speak of bringing back our king?" But the men of Judah pressed their claims even more forcefully than the men of Israel.

NASB: But the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, 'We have ten parts in the king, therefore we also have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt? Was it not our advice first to bring back our king?' Yet the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.

CSB: The men of Israel answered the men of Judah: "We have ten shares in the king, so we have a greater claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Weren’t we the first to speak of restoring our king?" But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than those of the men of Israel.

NLT: But there are ten tribes in Israel,' the others replied. 'So we have ten times as much right to the king as you do. What right do you have to treat us with such contempt? Weren’t we the first to speak of bringing him back to be our king again?' The argument continued back and forth, and the men of Judah spoke even more harshly than the men of Israel.

KJV: And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

NKJV: And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, “We have ten shares in the king; therefore we also have more right to David than you. Why then do you despise us—were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?” Yet the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

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).