40 The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. All the people of Judah, and also half the people of Israel, brought the king on his way.

41 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 (A)brought the king and his household over the Jordan, and all David's men with him?” 42 All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is (B)our close relative. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king's expense? Or has he given us any gift?” 43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have (C)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?” (D)But the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

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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