1 Kings 12:16

So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered [Heb. brought back word to ; probably after some consultation amongst themselves] the king, saying, What portion have we in David? [Same expression as 2 Samuel 20:1 . The words, interpreted by this passage and 2 Samuel 19:43 , mean, "Since we have no kindness or fairness from David's seed, what is his house to us? Why render homage to his son? We receive nought from him, why yield aught to him?"] neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse [ i.e; "his tribe is not ours; his interests are not ours." Bähr sees in the expression "son of Jesse" "an allusion to David's humbler descent," but surely without reason. It is simply a periphrasis for the sake of the parallelism. The rhythm almost elevates the words to the rank of poetry]: to your tents, O Israel [lit; thy tents, Or dwellings; i.e; "Disperse to your homes (see 1 Kings 8:66 ; and cf. 2 Samuel 18:17 ; 2 Samuel 19:8 ; 2 Samuel 20:1 ), and prepare for war." אֹהֶל , which means primarily a "tent," has for its secondary meaning, "habitation," "home." This cry—the Marseillaise of Israel—probably had its origin at a time when the people dwelt in tents, viz; in the march through the desert (see Joshua 22:4 ; Numbers 1:52 ; Numbers 9:18 ; Numbers 16:26 ) ]. Now see to thine own house, David [ i.e; let the seed of David henceforth reign over the tribe of Judah, if it can. It shall govern the other tribes no longer. "It is not a threat of war, but a warning against interference" (Rawlinson). רָאָה has the meaning of "look after," "care for." "David, the tribe father, is mentioned in place of his family" (Keil) ]. So Israel departed unto their [lit; his ] tents [see note on 2 Samuel 8:1-18 :66].