Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 19:42
And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king [is] near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king’s [cost]? or hath he given us any gift?
42. to us ] Lit. to me: and so art thou angry: and in 2Sa 19:43 the pronouns are singular throughout; each party being as it were personified and regarded as a unit.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
42. have we eaten at all of the king’s cost, &c.] They defend themselves by alleging the purity of their motives. Some see in the words a side-thrust at the Benjamites, who had enjoyed special privileges during Saul’s reign (1Sa 22:7).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 42. Wherefore then be ye angry for this matter?] We have not done this for our own advantage; we have gained nothing by it; we did it through loyal attachment to our king.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Near of kin to us; of the same tribe with us, and therefore both oweth the more respect to us, and might expect and challenge more respect from us. Hath he given us any gift? we have neither sought nor gained any advantage to ourselves hereby, but only discharged our duty to the king, and used all expedition in bringing him back, which you also should have done, and not have come in by halves, and so coldly as you have done. See 2Sa 19:40.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel,…. Such of them as went down to fetch the king back, replied to the men of Israel that now met them, and objected to their conduct:
because the king [is] near of kin to us; being of their tribe, and his palace was within their borders, and therefore they were proper persons to bring him home:
wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? for bringing the king back, and being the first in it; for who so proper as they, not only to do their duty, but to show their affection to the king as early as possible?
have we eaten at all of the king’s [cost]? they had maintained themselves at their own expense, going and returning; they had no self-interest or selfish views to serve, but on the contrary had been at a considerable charge to meet the king, and conduct him home:
or hath he given us any gift? no, he had not, nor did they expect any; it was not with a view to any reward that they had taken this step, but purely out of affection to the king, and for the good of their country.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(42) Have we eaten.Judah justifies its course by its nearness of relationship to the king, and repels the idea of having received any especial favours from him. In this, then, may be a taunt to the Benjamites on account of the partiality shown them by Saul. On the other hand, the Israelites urge their claim of numerical superiority. The whole dispute is a remarkable testimony to the fairness of Davids government as between the tribes.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
42. The king is near of kin to us Of our tribe, and therefore descended from the same father. Compare 2Sa 19:12.
Have we eaten at all of the king’s Have we received any special favours or honours?
Hath he given us any gift Such as fields, vineyards, or offices, as Saul did to the Benjamites. See 1Sa 22:7.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Sa 19:42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king [is] near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king’s [cost]? or hath he given us any gift?
Ver. 42. Have we eaten at all of the king’s cost?] Have we, as parasites, used our tongues to purvey for our teeth? have we sought ourselves in this service? were we hired or waged to do that we did?
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Because: 2Sa 19:12, 2Sa 5:1, 1Ch 2:3-17
Reciprocal: 2Sa 2:4 – the men of Judah 1Ch 12:39 – eating and drinking
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 19:42. The king is near of kin to us Of the same tribe with us, and therefore both oweth the more respect to us, and might expect more respect from us. Hath he given us any gift? We have neither sought nor gained any advantage to ourselves hereby, but only discharged our duty and testified our love to the king, and used all expedition in bringing him back, which you also should have done, and not have come by halves, and so coldly as you have done.