2 Samuel 19:12

12 You are my brothers; ¹you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?'

2 Samuel 19:12 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 19:12

Ye [are] my brethren, ye [are] my bones and my flesh
Being of the same tribe, and therefore he should deal gently with them, as if they were parts of his body; and not be severe upon them, for the hand they had in the conspiracy, as they might fear:

and wherefore then are ye the last to bring the king back?
since they were so nearly related to him, and he so ready to forgive them.

2 Samuel 19:12 In-Context

10 But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"

11 And King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests: "Say to the elders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house, when the word of all Israel has come to the king?

12 You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?'

13 And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if you are not commander of my army from now on in place of Joab.'"

14 And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, "Return, both you and all your servants."

Cross References

• 1. 2 Samuel 5:1; [Genesis 29:14]