Commentary for II Samuel 19:44
וַיַּ֣עַן אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֩ אֶת־אִ֨ישׁ יְהוּדָ֜ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר עֶֽשֶׂר־יָד֨וֹת לִ֣י בַמֶּלֶךְ֮ וְגַם־בְּדָוִד֮ אֲנִ֣י מִמְּךָ֒ וּמַדּ֙וּעַ֙ הֱקִלֹּתַ֔נִי וְלֹא־הָיָ֨ה דְבָרִ֥י רִאשׁ֛וֹן לִ֖י לְהָשִׁ֣יב אֶת־מַלְכִּ֑י וַיִּ֙קֶשׁ֙ דְּבַר־אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֔ה מִדְּבַ֖ר אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (ס)
And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said: ‘We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye; why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king?’ And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
Rashi on II Samuel
We have ten parts of the king. Because we are altogether ten tribes.
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Rashi on II Samuel
And also more right in Dovid. Although he is a closer relative of yours nevertheless we have more ownership of him then you do because we have ten parts [of him].
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Rashi on II Samuel
Why have you made light of me? That you should be first, was I not the first to request to have my king return? Prior to this our request came to him to have him return as it is written earlier,9 "while the messages of all Yisroel are coming to the king."
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Rashi on II Samuel
The words of men of Yehudah overpowered. Language similar to "Improve".10Tsaphania 2:1. The words of the men of Yehudah were more logical and they prevailed because they showed [as evidence] the letter Dovid had sent them [saying] "Why should you be the last to request" that the king return etc." This is what is explained in Agadah. Some explain וַיִקֶשׁ to denote hard and strong and that is Yonoson's translation, "overpowered."
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