40 The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half of Israel’s escorted the king. 41 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?”

42 All the men of Judah responded to the men of Israel, “Because the king is our relative. Why does this make you angry? Have we ever eaten anything of the king’s or been honored at all?” [a]

43 The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king,(A) 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?” (B) But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than those of the men of Israel.

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Footnotes

  1. 19:42 LXX reads king’s or has he given us a gift or granted us a portion

40 As the king crossed over the Jordan River[a] to Gilgal, Chimham accompanied him, as did all the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel.

Petty Quarrels Arise between Israel and Judah

41 Not long afterward, all the men of Israel started coming to the king, complaining to him,[b] “Why did our relatives in Judah’s army sneak you away, taking the king and his household over the Jordan River,[c] along with David’s army?”

42 Everybody from Judah shouted to the men from Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. So why are you angry about this? Have we lived off[d] the king’s expense? Have we appropriated anything for ourselves?”

43 But the men from Israel answered the men from Judah: “We[e] represent ten of the tribes[f] of Israel! So we[g] have more right to David than you[h] do! Why haven’t you[i] taken us[j] seriously? Weren’t we[k] the first to talk about bringing back our[l] king?” But what the people of Judah had to say was harsher than what the people of Israel were saying.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 19:40 The Heb. lacks the Jordan River
  2. 2 Samuel 19:41 Lit. to the king
  3. 2 Samuel 19:41 The Heb. lacks River
  4. 2 Samuel 19:42 Lit. we eaten from
  5. 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. I
  6. 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. ten hands; i.e. ten fractional portions
  7. 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. I
  8. 2 Samuel 19:43 MT you is sing.
  9. 2 Samuel 19:43 MT you is sing.
  10. 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. me
  11. 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. Wasn’t I
  12. 2 Samuel 19:43 Lit. my