2 Samuel 19:43 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.
2 Samuel 19:43 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.
2 Samuel 19:43 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.
2 Samuel 19:43 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.
2 Samuel 19:43 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.
2 Samuel 19 43 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Judg 8:1 | And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites?... | Ephraim's jealousy for being excluded |
| Judg 12:1 | And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee?... | Ephraim's recurring pride and challenge |
| 1 Sam 17:28 | ...Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart... | Brotherly envy, underestimation |
| Prov 13:10 | Only by pride cometh contention... | Pride as a source of conflict |
| Prov 15:22 | Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. | Value of collective counsel |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. | Warning against arrogance |
| Prov 24:6 | For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. | Importance of seeking advice |
| Prov 27:4 | Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? | Envy's destructive power |
| 1 Kgs 11:31 | And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: | Prophecy of the ten-tribe split |
| 1 Kgs 12:1-16 | And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king... | Direct fulfillment of tribal division |
| 2 Kgs 17:18 | Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. | Judah's persistence as a remnant |
| John 7:47-49 | The Pharisees answered them, Are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?... | Leaders despising the unlearned |
| Acts 6:1-3 | ...there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. | Disputes over fair distribution/service |
| Rom 12:3 | For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think... | Warning against self-exaltation |
| Rom 15:7 | Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. | Mutual acceptance, anti-despising |
| Phil 2:3 | Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. | Humility, valuing others over self |
| Eph 4:1-3 | I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Exhortation to unity and humility |
| James 3:14 | But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. | Envy and strife destroy peace |
| James 4:1 | From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? | Origin of conflict: desires/jealousy |
| Gal 5:26 | Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. | Warning against provoking/envying |
| 1 Pet 5:5 | Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud... | Call for humility and mutual submission |
2 Samuel 19 verses
2 Samuel 19 43 Meaning
This verse captures the contentious exchange between the northern tribes of Israel and the tribe of Judah following David's return to Jerusalem after Absalom's rebellion. The men of Israel express deep resentment and a sense of betrayal, asserting that their claim and number of tribes (ten) in the king surpassed Judah's. They accuse Judah of contempt for sidelining them and acting unilaterally in restoring King David, thereby denying them the proper consultative role in such a significant national affair.
2 Samuel 19 43 Context
This verse is part of the immediate aftermath of Absalom's failed rebellion and David's tumultuous return to the throne. Chapter 19 begins with David mourning Absalom, being rebuked by Joab, and then focusing on his return to Jerusalem. David extended pardons and reconciled with former adversaries like Shimei and Mephibosheth. However, as David crossed the Jordan River escorted primarily by the men of Judah (2 Sam 19:41-42), the northern tribes, represented as "Israel," felt slighted. The argument here erupts from Judah's apparent pride in being David's closest escorts and their rhetorical question, "Why then are you angry? Is it because we have a closer bond with the king?" (2 Sam 19:42). Verse 43 is Israel's direct and aggrieved response, setting the stage for deeper division and foreshadowing the full split of the kingdom, a tension that quickly manifests in Sheba's rebellion (2 Sam 20) and ultimately in the northern kingdom's secession under Jeroboam after Solomon's reign.
2 Samuel 19 43 Word analysis
- And the men of Israel: Represents the northern tribes as a collective body, often at odds with Judah, the southern tribe. They are acting as a single voice, asserting their perceived dominance in numbers and stake.
- answered: (Hebrew: wayya‘anu) This is a direct reply, not just a casual comment, indicating the heightened tension and underlying disagreement. It’s a rebuttal to the men of Judah’s implicit boast or defense in the previous verse (2 Sam 19:42).
- the men of Judah: Representatives of David's own tribe, often seen as holding a privileged position due to their lineage with the king and their geographical proximity to his capital.
- and said, We have ten parts in the king: (Hebrew: ‘eser yadot lanu ba-melekh) The word "parts" (yadot, lit. "hands") signifies "shares," "portions," or "representation." This refers to the approximate number of northern tribes (e.g., Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan, Reuben, Gad) that formed "Israel," thus asserting their quantitative majority over Judah. This also prefigures the "ten tribes" prophecy of the kingdom's division (1 Kgs 11:31). Their claim emphasizes numerical superiority and hence, by their reasoning, political precedence and rightful influence.
- and we have also more right in David than ye: (Hebrew: ve-gam-’anu le-David mikem) This means "we also belong to David more than you (do)," or "we have a stronger claim on David/closer bond with David than you." It implies not just numerical superiority but also a deeper perceived loyalty or investment in his kingship across the broader nation. This highlights a contention over who holds the legitimate 'ownership' or primary allegiance to the monarchy.
- and why then did ye despise us: (Hebrew: u-madu'a zillaltem ‘otanu) The core grievance. "Despise" (zillal) means to treat lightly, make contemptible, or hold in low esteem. Israel felt belittled and disrespected. This sentiment reveals deep-seated tribal jealousy and rivalry, often present in confederacies. It touches on issues of honor, status, and the demand for recognition, echoing similar grievances by Ephraim in Judges.
- that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king?: (Hebrew: ve-lo-nihyah devarēnu rishon lehashiv ’et malkenu) Literally, "and our word should not be first in restoring our king?" This points to a desire for political precedence and shared decision-making. They believed they, as the collective "Israel," should have been consulted and given priority in the significant act of restoring the king. The use of "our king" from both Israel and Judah demonstrates a possessive attitude toward David, highlighting the competitive claims to his kingship and the future of the nation.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah...": This initiates a direct confrontation, highlighting the growing schism between the two major factions within the Israelite nation. It is a moment of political and social tension, reflecting the inherent fragilities of a monarchy uniting diverse tribes.
- "We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye...": This statement is a bold assertion of superiority, based on tribal numbers ("ten parts") and an implied greater stake or loyalty ("more right in David"). It's an argument of quantity and national representation versus Judah's familial proximity and role in guarding David.
- "and why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king?": This combined phrase conveys Israel's profound sense of grievance and indignation. The core of their anger is the feeling of being overlooked and dishonored. The specific demand ("our advice should be first") underscores their expectation of being the primary political actor, given their numerical advantage, and signals a deeper struggle for leadership and influence over the national direction.
2 Samuel 19 43 Bonus section
The Hebrew word for "parts," yadot (יָדוֹת), literally means "hands." In this context, it functions metaphorically, signifying "shares" or "portions," similar to how one might refer to "hands" in a game of cards to denote individual allocations. This emphasizes the perception of Israel's collective stake in David's reign being much larger than Judah's. This passage is vital for understanding the eventual secession of the ten northern tribes, providing early evidence of the profound and persistent cleavage between "Israel" (the North) and "Judah" (the South), long before the official split under Rehoboam. This highlights a recurring challenge throughout the biblical narrative: the tension between a divinely appointed leader (David) and the diverse, sometimes rebellious, will of the people and tribes.
2 Samuel 19 43 Commentary
2 Samuel 19:43 is a crucial turning point in David's reign, laying bare the deep-seated tribal jealousies and power struggles that would eventually rend the united kingdom. The "men of Israel," representing the ten northern tribes, accuse Judah of showing contempt by monopolizing the king's restoration. Their claim to "ten parts" and "more right" in David reveals a quantitative understanding of national identity and kingship, arguing for preeminence based on sheer numbers, while Judah based its claim on David's origin from their tribe. This perceived "despising" wounded their tribal honor, leading to intense resentment. The desire for their "advice should be first" signifies a struggle for political ascendancy and control over the kingdom's trajectory. This incident shows that unity under David was often tenuous, predicated on his strong leadership rather than intrinsic tribal cohesion. It illustrates how unaddressed slights and battles over perceived prestige can undermine national solidarity and pave the way for eventual division, providing a sobering example of the destructive nature of pride and envy within a community.