2 Samuel 19:40–43

Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king, and also half the people of Israel. Just then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, “Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king, his household, and all David’s men with him across the Jordan?”

So all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is a close relative of ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?”

And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, “We have ten shares in the king; therefore we also have more right to David than you. Why then do you despise us—were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?”

Yet the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

This is one of the most disturbing passages in all scripture. Who cares who escorted David across the Jordan? Yeah, some folks missed being in the parade. Big deal. And do not miss that David’s escort wasn’t just the people of Judah, but “also half the people of Israel.”

The final sentence is especially foreboding. The Hebrew word that’s translated as fiercer (יִּ֙קֶשׁ֙, yi-qesh) means hard, harsh, difficult, hard-hearted, stiff-necked, or stubborn. The root word (קשׁה, qa-sha) is used, for example, to describe the hardening of Pharoah’s heart in Exodus.

And notice that it doesn’t explain what transpired, just the tone of the conversation.

But, if it doesn’t explain what happened, why is it even there?

Because it explains what’s about to happen.

Both sides are getting their noses out of joint over nothing, and, to make matters worse, each side is angry at the other’s attitude. The whole thing is pure competitiveness.

And it’s not even about anything either side got or will get; not even a meal with the king is involved. They’re just arguing over who has the greatest “share” of the king—whatever that means.

David did everything he could to treat everyone with dignity and grace. He’s not showing favoritism to anyone, but mercy to all. He’s giving them absolutely nothing to fight over.

So, they fight over who “escorted” David across the Jordan. Really. Soon this fight will escalate.

In Exodus, the LORD repeatedly uses “qa-sha” to refer to his chosen people as “stiff-necked”. Despite the spectacular miracles of their escape from Egypt, they aren’t happy.

They just can’t seem to relax and accept His blessings.

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These weekday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. Saturdays' by Matt Richardson. Subscribe here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community

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Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.