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2 Samuel 19:40-43 – Tension Building

Sometimes you hear of a falling out in a family, or a church. And when you hear what it’s about, you’re left thinking: ‘Wow – is that really what they’ve fallen out over?’ Often, however, the ‘issue’ isn’t really the issue. Often there have been tensions for a long time, and one side is just looking for an issue to fall out over. That certainly seems to be the case at the end of chapter 19. Although the nation of Israel is united as one kingdom at this time, it’s still split into different tribes. Way back in chapter 2, Judah had been the first tribe to recognise David as king. That tension between Judah and the other tribes is still on display here, all these years later. Verse 40 tells us that ‘all the people of Judah’ but only ‘half the people of Israel, brought the king on his way’. So there’s this Israel-Judah tension. And that breaks out into the open in verse 41 when the men of Israel come to David and ask, ‘Why have our brothers stolen you away?’ In other words, why did you let the tribe of Judah escort you home. It’s an over-the-top reaction. It sounds like the sort of accusation someone makes when they’re spoiling for a fight. David doesn’t answer, which isn’t hepful, leaving the tribes to argue it out among themselves. Judah reacts angrily in verse 42 by pointing out that David is their close relative. Israel say, “well we have ten shares in the king”. In other words, they have ten tribes compared to Judah’s one. (By the way, the reason that makes a total of 11 and not 12 is because the Levites didn’t have a geographic piece of land, but were spread throughout the other tribes.) Israel also point out that they were the first to speak about bringing the king back. And the chapter ends ominously, not with any resolution to the tension, but simply telling us that the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel. It’s not that one side backs down – it’s simply that one side were fiercer than the other. And so the stage is set for someone to come along and exploit these tensions.

Question

  1. What is the tension between the tribes?

Prayer Points

  1. Pray that we would be peacemakers.
  2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
  3. Pray for family matters.