Jealous for Royal Favor

Before David’s return from exile, there was a dispute about whether to bring him back, a dispute that apparently pitted Israel’s northern tribes (which wanted David to return) against Judah (which was hesitant). As we saw, however, David won over the Judahites with assurances that he bore them no ill will for the fact that Absalom launched his rebellion in the heart of their territory.

With that, “all the people of Judah” come to escort David across the Jordan River and up to Gilgal. Apparently some of the people of the northern tribes are there too, but the bulk of them seem to be waiting for David at Gilgal. When David finally comes there, the waiting northerners are surprised to find the king attended by such a huge body of enthusiastic Judahites. But not only are they surprised, they are more than a little displeased. After all, it was they who first pressed for David’s return, but now the Judahites are behaving as if they were far more favorable to the king’s comeback. To the northerners, it seems as if their loyalty to David is being made to look less heartfelt, and they are seized with jealousy, forgetting that David knew how things stood before he began his return journey.

In their jealousy, the leaders of the northern tribes employ some intemperate language, asking David why the men of Judah have “stolen you away,” as if David is their “property” alone and not also Judah’s. They attribute the worst possible motives to the Judahites, giving them no benefit of the doubt. From that point, passions quickly escalate. Before David can respond to the northern tribes, the men of Judah declare that they had the right to escort him because he is a “close relative,” a member of their tribe. They deny that David has showed them any favor in the form of hospitality or gifts. But the northern tribes refuse to be mollified. In a rather foolish argument, they assert that, as a body, they have “ten shares” of David, so they have “more right” to him than Judah. And they accuse the Judahites of despising them—they who were the first to want David back.

This is very strong language. But Judah’s words prove even “fiercer.” Thus, the dispute escalates in leaps and bounds, with no one employing soft words to turn away wrath. Absalom’s rebellion is over, but the divisions he caused are still stirring up strife.