41
And behold, all the men of Israelcame to the king and said to the king, "Why had our brothers the men of Judahstolen you away, and brought the king and his household and allDavid'smen with him over the Jordan?"
42
Then all the men of Judahanswered the men of Israel, "Because the king is a closerelative to us. Why then are you angryaboutthismatter? Have we eaten at all at the king's expense, or has anything been taken for us?"
43
But the men of Israelanswered the men of Judah and said, "We have tenparts in the king, therefore we also have more claim on Davidthan you. Why then did you treat us with contempt? Was it not our advicefirst to bringback our king?" Yet the words of the men of Judah were harsherthan the words of the men of Israel.