· Translation: KJV

2 Samuel 5:1Then came all the tribes of Israel to David to Hebron, and spoke, saying, "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

The setting

Hebron, Israel, ~1003 BC. Representatives from all twelve tribes gather to crown David as king over united Israel...

The emotion here: joy mixed with political calculation

The original word

etsem (עצם) — bone, strength, essence of being; deepest family connection

Why it matters

This made David king over all Israel after ruling only Judah for 7.5 years

Read with care

What most readers miss in 2 Samuel 5:1

These same tribes once rejected David and followed Saul's son — now they're claiming kinship

Common misconceptionPeople think this was purely emotional family reunion, but it was also shrewd political alliance — the tribes needed David's military success against the Philistines.

Bible Genome reading

2 Samuel 5:1 — Bible Genome reading

Speakertribal representatives
EraUnited Kingdom
Primary emotionjoyful
Literary typedialogue

Emotional genome

Comfort power50%
Quotability60%
Memorability70%
Crisis relevance20%
Standalone50%
Themes:unitykinship

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open 2 Samuel 5

2 Samuel 5:1 comes from the book of 2 Samuel, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to tribal representatives. The dominant emotion in this verse is joyful, with a comfort power of 50% and a tone that is celebratory. It belongs to the dialogue genre of biblical literature. Key themes include unity, kinship. Notable phrases: bone and flesh.

Your reflection

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