2 Samuel 19:14
New International Version
He won over the hearts of the men of Judah so that they were all of one mind. They sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your men.”

New Living Translation
Then Amasa convinced all the men of Judah, and they responded unanimously. They sent word to the king, “Return to us, and bring back all who are with you.”

English Standard Version
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.”

Berean Standard Bible
So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man, and they sent word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants.”

King James Bible
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.

New King James Version
So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, just as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants!”

New American Standard Bible
So he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants.”

NASB 1995
Thus he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants.”

NASB 1977
Thus he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Thus he inclined the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so they sent word to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants.”

Amplified Bible
In this way he changed the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so they sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your servants.”

Christian Standard Bible
So he won over all the men of Judah, and they unanimously sent word to the king: “Come back, you and all your servants.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So he won over all the men of Judah, and they sent word to the king: “Come back, you and all your servants.”

American Standard Version
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent unto the king, saying, Return thou, and all thy servants.

Contemporary English Version
Soon the tribe of Judah again became followers of David, and they sent him this message: "Come back, and bring your soldiers with you."

English Revised Version
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent unto the king, saying, Return thou, and all thy servants.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
All the people of Judah were in total agreement. So they sent the king this message: "Come back with all your servants."

Good News Translation
David's words won the complete loyalty of all the men of Judah, and they sent him word to return with all his officials.

International Standard Version
By doing things like this, he persuaded all the men of Judah to unite in support of him. They sent the king this message: "Come on back, you and all of your army!"

Majority Standard Bible
So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man, and they sent word to the king: ?Return, you and all your servants.?

NET Bible
He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man. Then they sent word to the king saying, "Return, you and all your servants as well."

New Heart English Bible
Thus the heart of all the men of Judah was inclined as one man, so that they sent a message to the king, "Return, you and all your servants."

Webster's Bible Translation
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word to the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.

World English Bible
He bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as one man, so that they sent to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he inclines the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, and they send to the king, “Return, you and all your servants.”

Young's Literal Translation
And he inclineth the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, and they send unto the king, 'Turn back, thou, and all thy servants.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will incline the heart of all the men of Judah as one man; and they will send to the king, Turn back thou, and all thy servants.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And be inclined the heart of all the men of Juda, as it were of one man: and they sent to the king, saying: Return thou, and all thy servants.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he inclined the heart of all the men of Judah, as if one man. And they sent to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants.”

New American Bible
He won the hearts of the Judahites all together, and so they sent a message to the king: “Return, with all your servants.”

New Revised Standard Version
Amasa swayed the hearts of all the people of Judah as one, and they sent word to the king, “Return, both you and all your servants.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man; so that they sent word to the king, saying, Return you and all your servants.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he turned the heart of all of them of the house of Yehuda as one man, and they sent to the King and they said to him: “You return and all of your Servants!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent unto the king: 'Return thou, and all thy servants.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Juda as that of one man; and they sent to the king, saying, Return thou, and all thy servants.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Restored as King
13And say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from this time you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’ ” 14So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man, and they sent word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants.” 15So the king returned, and when he arrived at the Jordan, the men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the Jordan.…

Cross References
2 Samuel 15:13
Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

2 Samuel 17:14
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.

2 Samuel 18:19-33
Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.” / But Joab replied, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.” / So Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running. ...

1 Kings 12:1-20
Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. / When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he was still in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon and had been living ever since. / So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel came to Rehoboam and said, ...

1 Kings 12:26-33
Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom might revert to the house of David. / If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, their hearts will return to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah; then they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” / After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” ...

1 Chronicles 12:38
All these men of war, arrayed for battle, came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. And all the rest of the Israelites were of one mind to make David king.

1 Chronicles 28:4
Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me out of all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah He chose my father’s household, and from my father’s sons He was pleased to make me king over all Israel.

Psalm 133:1
A song of ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!

Proverbs 21:1
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.

Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. / Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

Jeremiah 32:39
I will give them one heart and one way, so that they will always fear Me for their own good and for the good of their children after them.

Ezekiel 37:15-22
Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “And you, son of man, take a single stick and write on it: ‘Belonging to Judah and to the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick and write on it: ‘Belonging to Joseph—the stick of Ephraim—and to all the house of Israel associated with him.’ / Then join them together into one stick, so that they become one in your hand. ...

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Matthew 12:25
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

John 17:21-23
that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. / I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one— / I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.


Treasury of Scripture

And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word to the king, Return you, and all your servants.

even

Judges 20:1
Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.

Psalm 110:2,3
The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies…

Acts 4:32
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

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Bowed Heart Hearts Inclineth Judah Moved Servants Swayed Turn Turned Won Word
2 Samuel 19
1. Joab causes the king to cease his mourning
9. The Israelites are earnest to bring the king back
11. David sends to the priest to incite them of Judah
18. Shimei is pardoned
24. Mephibosheth excused
32. Barzillai dismissed, and Chimham his son taken into the king's family
41. The Israelites expostulate with Judah for bringing home the king without them














So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah
David's ability to sway the hearts of the men of Judah highlights his leadership and the deep loyalty he commanded. Historically, Judah was David's own tribe, and he had previously reigned over them in Hebron before becoming king over all Israel. This connection likely facilitated his influence. The phrase suggests a unified response, indicating that David's appeal was compelling enough to overcome any lingering divisions or hesitations following Absalom's rebellion. This unity is reminiscent of the tribal loyalty seen in earlier biblical narratives, such as the support of the tribe of Judah for David in 2 Samuel 2:4.

as though they were one man
The expression "as though they were one man" emphasizes the complete and unanimous support David received from the tribe of Judah. This unity is significant in the context of ancient Israel, where tribal affiliations often led to divisions. The phrase echoes the unity seen in other biblical accounts, such as the Israelites' collective response to God's commands in Exodus 24:3. It also foreshadows the ideal of unity in the body of Christ, as described in the New Testament (e.g., 1 Corinthians 12:12).

and they sent word to the king:
The act of sending word to David signifies a formal invitation and acknowledgment of his rightful place as king. This gesture was necessary to restore David's authority and re-establish his rule over the nation. In the cultural context of the time, such communication would have been a significant step in repairing the relationship between the king and his people, especially after the turmoil of Absalom's rebellion.

“Return, you and all your servants.”
The invitation for David to return, along with all his servants, underscores the desire for the restoration of the king's court and the re-establishment of order in the kingdom. This request reflects a recognition of David's legitimate kingship and a willingness to submit to his rule once more. The call for David's return can be seen as a type of Christ's return, where believers anticipate the return of the King to restore and reign in peace and justice, as prophesied in passages like Zechariah 14:9 and Revelation 19:11-16.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The King of Israel, who is in the process of returning to Jerusalem after the rebellion of his son Absalom.

2. Men of Judah
The tribe of Judah, who are being persuaded to bring King David back to Jerusalem.

3. Absalom
David's son, whose rebellion against his father has just been quashed, leading to David's return.

4. Jerusalem
The capital city of Israel, from which David had fled during Absalom's rebellion.

5. Hebron
The city where Absalom initially declared himself king, and a significant location in the account of David's reign.
Teaching Points
Unity in Leadership
The passage highlights the importance of unity under godly leadership. Just as the men of Judah were united in their support for David, believers are called to be united under Christ, our ultimate King.

The Power of Influence
David's ability to sway the hearts of the men of Judah demonstrates the power of influence. As Christians, we should strive to influence others positively, leading them towards truth and reconciliation.

Restoration and Reconciliation
David's return to Jerusalem symbolizes restoration and reconciliation. In our lives, we should seek to restore broken relationships and reconcile with those from whom we have been estranged.

God's Sovereignty in Leadership
Despite the turmoil and rebellion, God's sovereign plan for David's kingship prevailed. This reminds us that God is in control, even when circumstances seem chaotic.

The Role of Forgiveness
David's return required forgiveness from those who had supported Absalom. As followers of Christ, we are called to forgive others, just as we have been forgiven.Verse 14. - And he bowed, etc. It was not Amasa, but David, who made all the members of his tribe unanimous in his recall. And not only were the high priests active in his cause, but David, He may feel sure, sent numerous messages to all the more powerful men, assuring them of forgiveness and favour. In his general policy he was right. After the solemn anointing of Absalom, it was necessary for him to wait until some equally public and national act authorized his resumption of the royal power; and delay was dangerous. Every day now spent at Mabanaim might give the opportunity for fresh troubles.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So [Amasa] swayed
וַיַּ֛ט (way·yaṭ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5186: To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend

the hearts
לְבַ֥ב (lə·ḇaḇ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

of all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the men
אִישׁ־ (’îš-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of Judah
יְהוּדָ֖ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

as though they were one
אֶחָ֑ד (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

man,
כְּאִ֣ישׁ (kə·’îš)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

and they sent
וַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙ (way·yiš·lə·ḥū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

word to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the king:
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

“Return,
שׁ֥וּב (šūḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

you
אַתָּ֖ה (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

and all
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

your servants.”
עֲבָדֶֽיךָ׃ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant


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OT History: 2 Samuel 19:14 He bowed the heart of all (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 19:13
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