2 Samuel 19:40 - Meaning and Application

David crossed the Jordan, and only the men of Judah went with him and helped him. When he reached Gilgal, the first stopping place on this side of the Jordan, half the people of Israel, meaning their elders and leading men, came to meet him. They wanted to honor him, kiss his hand, and celebrate his return, but they arrived too late to see the special moment when he first entered. That upset them and led to a quarrel with the men of Judah. What should have been a day of joy became dim, and the trouble only grew from there.

The men of Israel brought their complaint to the king. They said the men of Judah had taken the honor of bringing the king across the Jordan without giving them notice, so they could join in. This made it seem as if the Israelites cared less about David’s return than Judah did. But David knew they had already been talking about bringing him back before Judah did (2 Samuel 19:11). Their complaint also suggested that Judah wanted to keep the king’s favor for themselves and act as if they were his only supporters. Pride and jealousy often cause that kind of harm.

The men of Judah answered by pointing to their close relation to the king. David was their own kinsman, so, they said, in a matter of ceremony like this, they had reason to take the lead. The king was also returning into their own territory, so they thought they were the right ones to escort him. They also denied that they were trying to benefit from the king’s return. They asked whether they had lived at the king’s expense or received any gift from him. They were saying, in effect, that they had not done this to gain advantage for themselves. Too many who serve princes do it only for what they can get.

The men of Israel then defended their complaint. They said, “We have ten shares in the king,” since Judah had only Simeon with them, and Simeon’s land lay within Judah’s territory. So, they argued, it was a slight against them that no one asked their advice about bringing the king back. This shows how quickly crowds can change. Not long before, they were trying to drive the king away, and now they were arguing about who should honor him most. A good man and a good cause can recover their standing, even after seeming to lose it for a time. Often, quarrels begin because people cannot bear even the smallest sign of disrespect.

The men of Judah would have done better to ask for their brothers’ help and advice. But since they did not, the men of Israel should not have been so deeply offended. If a good task is done well, we should not despise it or speak against it just because we had no part in it. The Scripture also points out, as a warning, which side spoke more harshly. It says the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than those of the men of Israel. Even when we are right, if we speak with sharpness and anger, God notices and is displeased.