SEV Biblia, Chapter 19:43
Entonces respondieron los varones de Israel, y dijeron a los de Judá: Nosotros tenemos en el rey diez partes, y en el mismo David más que vosotros; ¿por qué pues nos habéis tenido en poco? ¿No hablamos nosotros primero en volver a nuestro rey? Mas al fin la razón de los varones de Judá fue más fuerte que el de los varones de Israel.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:43
Verse 43. We have ten parts in the king, and-more right] We are ten tribes to one, or we are ten times so many as you; and consequently should have been consulted in this business. The words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.] They had more weight, for they had more reason on their side.
IT is pleasant when every province, canton, district, and county, vie with each other in personal attachment to the prince, and loyal attachment to his government. From such contentions as these civil wars are never likely to arise. And how blessed it must be for the country where the king merits all this! where the prince is the pastor and father of his people, and in all things the minister of and to them for good! It is criminal in the prince not to endeavour to deserve the confidence and love of his people; and it is highly criminal in the people not to repay such endeavours with the most loyal and affectionate attachment.
Where the government is not despotic, the king acts by the counsels of his ministers, and while he does so he is not chargeable with miscarriages and misfortunes; they either came through bad counsels, or directly thwarting providences. On this ground is that political maxim in our laws formed, the king can do no wrong. Sometimes God will have things otherwise than the best counsels have determined, because he sees that the results will, on the whole, be better for the peace and prosperity of that state. "God is the only Ruler of princes." And as the peace of the world depends much on civil government, hence kings and civil governors are peculiar objects of the Almighty's care. Wo to him who labours to bring about a general disaffection; as such things almost invariably end in general disappointment and calamity. It is much easier to unsettle than to settle; to pull down than to build up.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 43. And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said , etc.] They replied to them, as follows: we have ten parts in the king ; being ten tribes, reckoning Simeon in the tribe of Judah, within which it lay, ( Joshua 19:1); and we have, also more [right] in David than ye ; being more numerous than they; or, according to the Targum, they had more affection and good will towards David than the men of Judah, though he was of their tribe, and dwelt among them; since the rebellion was begun, and was cherished and carried on among them: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king ? they were as ready and as desirous as they to fetch the king back; and since they were far the largest body of men, and the far greater part of the nation, they thought they ought to have been consulted in an affair of so much importance, and that doing it without them was slighting them, and casting contempt upon them, and insinuating as if they were enemies to the king; or, as the Targum expresses it, “was not my word first to bring back my king?” the first motion was from them, as appears from ( 2 Samuel 19:11); and therefore the thing should not have been done without them; they should have been apprized of it, that they might at least have joined them, and shared in the honour with them of bringing the king back: and the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel ; not those that are here recorded, but what followed, and are not written, being so very warm and indecent; and David being silent in this hot dispute between them, which was interpreted taking the part of Judah, the men of Israel were incensed at it; and hence arose a new rebellion, of which more in the next chapter how it began, and was crushed.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 40-43 - The men of Israel though themselves despised, and the fiercer words of the men of Judah produced very bad effects. Much evil might be avoided if men would watch against pride, and remember that a soft answe turneth away wrath. Though we have right and reason on our side, if we speak it with fierceness, God is displeased __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ויען 6030 אישׁ 376 ישׂראל 3478 את 853 אישׁ 376 יהודה 3063 ויאמר 559 עשׂר 6235 ידות 3027 לי במלך 4428 וגם 1571 בדוד 1732 אני 589 ממך 4480 ומדוע 4069 הקלתני 7043 ולא 3808 היה 1961 דברי 1697 ראשׁון 7223 לי להשׁיב 7725 את 853 מלכי 4428 ויקשׁ 7185 דבר 1697 אישׁ 376 יהודה 3063 מדבר 1697 אישׁ 376 ישׂראל׃ 3478
