Then allthe menof Judahansweredthe menof Israel,"Becausethe kingis a closerelativeto us. Whythen are you angryaboutthismatter?Have we eatenat allat the king's[expense], orhas anythingbeen takenfor us?"
You are my brothers;you are my boneand my flesh.Whythen should you be the lastto bringbackthe king?'
But the menof Israelansweredthe menof Judahand said,"We have tenpartsin the king,therefore we alsohave more[claim] on Davidthanyou. Whythen did you treatus with contempt?Was it not our advicefirstto bringbackour king?"Yet the wordsof the menof Judahwere harsherthanthe wordsof the menof Israel.
Then the menof Judahcameand thereanointedDavidkingoverthe houseof Judah.And they toldDavid,saying,"It was the menof Jabesh-gileadwhoburiedSaul."
Then allthe tribesof Israelcameto Davidat Hebronand said,"Behold,we are your boneand your flesh.
Then the menof Ephraimsaidto him, "Whatis thisthingyou have doneto us, not callingus whenyou wentto fightagainst Midian?"And they contendedwith him vigorously.