Then allthe tribesof Israelcameto Davidat Hebronand said,"Behold,we are your boneand your flesh.
Labansaidto him, "Surelyyou are my boneand my flesh."And he stayedwith him a month.
You are my brothers;you are my boneand my flesh.Whythen should you be the lastto bringbackthe king?'
"Sayto Amasa,'Are you not my boneand my flesh?May Goddosoto me, and morealso,ifyou will not be commanderof the armybeforeme continuallyin placeof Joab.'"
Thus he turnedthe heartsof allthe menof Judahas oneman,so that they sent[word] to the king,[saying], "Return,you and allyour servants."
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.
And they tookup Asaheland buriedhim in his father'stombwhichwas in Bethlehem.Then Joaband his menwentallnightuntil the day dawnedat Hebron.
becausewe are membersof His body.
you shall surelyseta kingoveryou whomthe LORDyour Godchooses,[one] from amongyour countrymenyou shall setas kingoveryourselves; you maynot puta foreigneroveryourselves whois not your countryman.
Therefore,sincethe childrensharein fleshand blood,He Himselflikewisealsopartookof the same,that throughdeathHe might render powerlesshim who hadthe powerof death,that is, the devil,
Then Joshuaand allIsraelwith him wentup from Eglonto Hebron,and they foughtagainstit.
"Speak,now,in the hearingof allthe leadersof Shechem,'Whichis betterfor you, that seventymen,allthe sonsof Jerubbaal,ruleover you, orthat onemanruleover you?' Also, rememberthat I am your boneand your flesh."
