2 Samuel 19:12

12 Ye are my brethren, ye are my bone and my flesh; and why will ye 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 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle; and now why are ye silent as to bringing the king back?

11 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak to the elders of Judah saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, to his house.

12 Ye are my brethren, ye are my bone and my flesh; and why will ye be the last to bring back the king?

13 And say to Amasa, Art thou not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually instead of Joab.

14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah as of one man; and they sent to the king, Return, thou and all thy servants.