Bible Strands
2 Samuel 19:41
Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — All the men of Israel approach King David at Gilgal immediately after he crosses the Jordan with his household and David’s men. They confront the king directly to demand an explanation for why the men of Judah escorted him privately across the river.
The words — The phrase כָּל־אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל (kol-'ish Yisra'el) literally renders "every man of Israel," marking the complaint as a unified tribal action rather than a fringe grievance. The verb בָּאִים (ba'im) denotes a deliberate, purposeful approach toward the throne.
The thread — The confrontation follows the pattern of Judges 8:1 and Judges 12:1, where border tribes challenge leaders over perceived exclusion, and parallels the accusatory tone of Genesis 31:26. Each passage tracks how regional groups react when a ruling authority or tribal faction acts without prior consultation.
Why it lands — The text records a direct political inquiry about perceived favoritism and unauthorized movement of the royal party. It requires a reader to acknowledge that unaddressed tribal grievances demand explicit accountability rather than passive assumption.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David’s men with him, over Jordan?
Cross-references
- Judges 8:1 Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, “Why have you done this to us? Why did you fail to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they contended with him violently.
- Judges 12:1 Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!”
- Genesis 31:26 Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war!
- 2 Samuel 19:3 So they returned to the city quietly that day, as people steal away in humiliation after fleeing a battle.
- John 7:5 For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.