2 Samuel 19:14

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."

Parallel Translations

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.”

Hebrew Names Version
He bowed the heart of all the men of Yehudah, even as [the heart of] one man; so that they sent to the king, [saying], Return you, and all your servants.

King James Version
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.

Lexham English Bible
So he turned the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, and they sent word to the king, "Return, you and all your servants."

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."

New Century Version
David touched the hearts of all the people of Judah at once. They sent a message to the king that said, "Return with all your men."

New English Translation
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."

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."

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."

Geneva Bible (1587)
So he bowed the heartes of all the men of Iudah, as of one man: therefore they sent to the King, saying, Returne thou with all thy seruants.

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."

Complete Jewish Bible
Also tell ‘Amasa, ‘You are my flesh and bone. May God bring terrible curses on me and worse ones yet if from now on you are not permanent commander of my army instead of Yo'av."

Darby Translation
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.

Easy-to-Read Version
David touched the hearts of the people of Judah, and they all agreed as one. The people of Judah sent a message to the king, saying, "You and all your officers come back!"

George Lamsa Translation
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.

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.

Literal Translation
And he inclined the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, and they sent to the king, Return, you and all your servants.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And he bowed the hert of all the men of Iuda as of one man. And they sent vnto ye kynge: Come agayne, thou and all thy seruauntes:

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.

Bible in Basic English
And the hearts of the men of Judah were moved like one man; so that they sent to the king, saying, Come back, with all your servants.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he bowed the heartes of all the men of Iuda, euen as the heart of one man, so that they sent [this word] to the king: Returne thou with all thy seruauntes.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And say ye 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 in the room of Joab.'

King James Version (1611)
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Iudah, euen as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word vnto the King, Returne thou and all thy seruants.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
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.

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.

Berean Standard Bible
So Amasa 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."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Dauid bowide the herte of alle men of Juda as of o man; and thei senten to the kyng, and seiden, Turne thou ayen, and alle thi seruauntis.

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.'

Update Bible Version
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as [the heart of] one man; so that they sent to the king, [saying], Return, you and all your slaves.

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 [the heart of] one man; so that they sent to the king, [saying], Return you, and all your 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 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."

New Life Bible
He changed the hearts of all the men of Judah as if they were one man. So they sent word to the king, saying, "Return, you and all your servants."

New Revised Standard
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."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Thus bowed he the heart of all the men of Judah, as one man, - and they sent unto the king, Return, thou, and all thy servants.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he 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.

Revised 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."

THE MESSAGE
He captured the hearts of everyone in Judah. They were unanimous in sending for the king: "Come back, you and all your servants."

New American Standard Bible (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."

Contextual Overview

⁹everyone in Israel started arguing. They were saying to each other, "King David rescued us from the Philistines and from our other enemies. But then we chose Absalom to be our new leader, and David had to leave the country to get away. Absalom died in battle, so why hasn't something been done to bring David back?" ¹¹ When David found out what they were saying, he sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. It said: Say to the leaders of Judah, "Why are you the last tribe to think about bringing King David back home? ¹² He is your brother, your own relative! Why haven't you done anything to bring him back?" ¹³ And tell Amasa, "You're my nephew, and with God as a witness, I swear I'll make you commander of my army instead of Joab." ¹⁴ Soon the tribe of Judah again became followers of David, and they sent him this message: "Come back, and bring your soldiers with you." ¹⁵ David started back and had gone as far as the Jordan River when he met the people of Judah. They had gathered at Gilgal and had come to help him cross the river.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he bowed: The measures that he pursued were the best calculated that could be adopted for accomplishing this salutary end. David appears to take no notice of their infidelity, but rather to place confidence in them, that their confidence in him might be naturally excited; and to oblige them yet farther, purposes to make Amasa general of the army, instead of Joab.

even: Judges 20:1, Psalms 110:2, Psalms 110:3, Acts 4:32

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 3:12 - my hand 2 Samuel 19:43 - our advice 2 Samuel 22:44 - delivered

Cross-References

Genesis 19:4
Before Lot and his guests could go to bed, every man in Sodom, young and old, came and stood outside his house

Genesis 19:8
I have two daughters who have never been married. I'll bring them out, and you can do what you want with them. But don't harm these men. They are guests in my home."

Genesis 19:12
The two angels said to Lot, "The Lord has heard many terrible things about the people of Sodom, and he has sent us here to destroy the city. Take your family and leave. Take every relative you have in the city, as well as the men your daughters are going to marry."

Genesis 19:14
Lot went to the men who were engaged to his daughters and said, "Hurry and get out of here! The Lord is going to destroy this city." But they thought he was joking, and they laughed at him.

Genesis 19:17
When they were outside, one of the angels said, "Run for your lives! Don't even look back. And don't stop in the valley. Run to the hills, where you will be safe."

Genesis 19:22
Hurry! Run! I can't do anything until you are safely there." The town was later called Zoar because Lot had said it was small.

Genesis 19:28
He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and saw smoke rising from all over the land—it was like a flaming furnace.

Genesis 19:30
Lot was afraid to stay on in Zoar. So he took his two daughters and moved to a cave in the hill country.

Exodus 9:21
But others paid no attention to his threats and left their slaves and animals out in the open.

Exodus 12:31
During the night the king sent for Moses and Aaron and told them, "Get your people out of my country and leave us alone! Go and worship the Lord , as you have asked.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as [the heart of] one man,.... This the Jewish commentators generally understand of Amasa that he used his interest with the men of Judah, and so wrought upon them, that they agreed as one man to send for the king, and bring him back; but it seems best to understand it of David, who by these gentle methods, kind messages, and affectionate speeches, powerfully inclined and engaged the hearts of the people towards him; so that they were unanimously and affectionately agreed to restore him: in this way David chose to return; he could have come without their leave, or any invitation from them, as he was their lawful king, and a victorious one, the rebellion being crushed; and had it in his power to chastise those concerned in it, and use them with severity; but he chose rather to gain the hearts of his people, and to come in a way peaceable to them, and honourable to himself:

so that they sent [this word] unto the king, return thou and all thy servants; perhaps by the same messengers that David sent; or it may be, rather for honour's sake they deputed some of their principal men to wait on David, and invite him to return to them with all his retinue and army, promising allegiance and fidelity to him.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 19:14. And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah — The measures that he pursued were the best calculated that could be to accomplish this salutary end. Appear to distrust those whom you have some reason to suspect, and you increase their caution and distrust. Put as much confidence in them as you safely can, and this will not fail to excite their confidence towards you.