Day 158 – 2 Samuel 19:40-43
Scripture Review
2 Samuel 19:40-43
"Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel."
(2 Samuel 19:40)
Gilgal was near Jordan and connected with Israel's earlier entrance into the land. Now it becomes part of David's return after exile. Chimham goes with David. Barzillai stayed behind, but Chimham went forward with the king. The verse says Judah "conducted" the king. Conducted means escorted, led, or accompanied. Judah is taking a prominent role in bringing David back. But only "half the people of Israel" are mentioned here, which shows that not everyone feels equally included.
"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?"
(2 Samuel 19:41)
The men of Israel ask why Judah had "stolen" him away. They do not mean Judah literally kidnapped David. They mean Judah acted as if David belonged only to them and brought him back without properly including the rest of Israel. Their words reveal hurt pride. They call Judah "our brethren," meaning their brothers, but they speak like brothers who feel ignored. That is often how division works. There is something to consider here. Israel had been slow to bring David back. Judah had finally acted. Yet now Israel is angry that Judah acted first.
"And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?"
(2 Samuel 19:42)
Judah answers Israel by saying the king is "near of kin" to them. That means David is closely related to them by tribe and family. David came from Judah, so they felt they had a natural reason to escort him. Then they ask, why Israel is so upset. Judah also says "We did not do this for money, favors, or personal advantage." It is true, they were kin to David, and they had not received payment.
"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."
(2 Samuel 19:43)
Israel answers back with stronger language. They say, "We have ten parts in the king." This means the other tribes of Israel claim a larger share in the kingdom than Judah alone. They are saying, "David is not just Judah's king. He is our king too." Then they say, "we have also more right in David than ye." They are now arguing over who has the greater claim on the king. Instead of rejoicing that David is restored, they are competing over ownership and honor. They ask why Judah "despise" them. Despise means to treat as unimportant, look down on, or disregard. Israel feels that Judah did not seek their "advice," meaning their counsel or input, before bringing David back.
Then the chapter ends with an even more dividing statement, "the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel." Judah's reply becomes even more heated. Israel feels overlooked. Judah feels accused. Both sides are talking about the king, but neither side is showing the spirit of the king. They are claiming David while dividing David's people.