2 Samuel 2:3
New International Version
David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns.

New Living Translation
and his men and their families all moved to Judah, and they settled in the villages near Hebron.

English Standard Version
And David brought up his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron.

Berean Standard Bible
David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.

King James Bible
And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

New King James Version
And David brought up the men who were with him, every man with his household. So they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

New American Standard Bible
And David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they settled in the cities of Hebron.

NASB 1995
And David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they lived in the cities of Hebron.

NASB 1977
And David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they lived in the cities of Hebron.

Legacy Standard Bible
And David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they lived in the cities of Hebron.

Amplified Bible
And David brought up his men who were with him, each one with his household; and they lived in the cities of Hebron.

Christian Standard Bible
In addition, David brought the men who were with him, each one with his family, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In addition, David brought the men who were with him, each one with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.

American Standard Version
And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

Contemporary English Version
David also told his men and their families to come and live in the villages near Hebron.

English Revised Version
And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
David took his men and their families with him, and they settled in the towns around Hebron.

Good News Translation
He also took his men and their families, and they settled in the towns around Hebron.

International Standard Version
David brought his army with him, each soldier accompanied by his household, and they settled in the cities of Hebron.

Majority Standard Bible
David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.

NET Bible
David also brought along the men who were with him, each with his family. They settled in the cities of Hebron.

New Heart English Bible
and the men who were with him, everyone with his household. And they lived in Hebron.

Webster's Bible Translation
And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

World English Bible
David brought up his men who were with him, every man with his household. They lived in the cities of Hebron.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and David has brought up his men who [are] with him—a man and his household—and they dwell in the cities of Hebron.

Young's Literal Translation
and his men who are with him hath David brought up -- a man and his household -- and they dwell in the cities of Hebron.

Smith's Literal Translation
And his men which were with him David brought up with him each, and his house: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the men also that were with him, David brought up every man with his household: and they abode in the towns of Hebron.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And as for the men who were with him, David led forth each man with his household. And they stayed in the towns of Hebron.

New American Bible
David also brought up his men with their families, and they dwelt in the towns of Hebron.

New Revised Standard Version
David brought up the men who were with him, every one with his household; and they settled in the towns of Hebron.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And David and his men who were with him went up together, every man with his household; and they dwelt in Hebron.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And David and his men with him went up and the men of his house and they dwelt in Khebruun
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household; and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and the men that were with him, every one and his family; and they dwelt in the cities of Chebron.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Anointed King of Judah
2So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron. 4Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”…

Cross References
1 Samuel 27:3
David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal.

1 Samuel 30:1-5
On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag, and the Amalekites had raided the Negev, attacked Ziklag, and burned it down. / They had taken captive the women and all who were there, both young and old. They had not killed anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way. / When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned down and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. ...

1 Samuel 30:26-31
When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the LORD’s enemies.” / He sent gifts to those in Bethel, Ramoth Negev, and Jattir; / to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, and Eshtemoa; ...

2 Samuel 5:6-10
Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.” / Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). / On that day he said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must use the water shaft to reach the lame and blind who are despised by David.” That is why it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the palace.” ...

2 Samuel 3:1
Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

1 Chronicles 12:1-22
Now these were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the mighty men who helped him in battle; / they were archers using both the right and left hands to sling stones and shoot arrows; and they were Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin): / Ahiezer their chief and Joash, who were the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah; Jehu the Anathothite; ...

1 Samuel 22:1-2
So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. / And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

1 Samuel 23:13
Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth.

1 Samuel 25:42-43
So Abigail hurried and got on a donkey, and attended by five of her maidens, she followed David’s messengers and became his wife. / David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. So she and Abigail were both his wives.

1 Samuel 18:13
Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back,

1 Samuel 19:8
When war broke out again, David went out and fought the Philistines and struck them with such a mighty blow that they fled before him.

1 Samuel 16:1-13
Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.” / “How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ / Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate.” ...

1 Samuel 20:1
Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? How have I sinned against your father, that he wants to take my life?”

1 Samuel 21:10
That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.

1 Samuel 22:3-4
From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I learn what God will do for me.” / So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold.


Treasury of Scripture

And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelled in the cities of Hebron.

his men

1 Samuel 22:2
And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

1 Samuel 27:2,3
And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath…

1 Samuel 30:1,9,10
And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; …

the cities

Joshua 21:11,12
And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it…

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2 Samuel 2
1. David, by God's direction, with his company goes up to Hebron
4. where he is made king of Judah
5. He commends them of Jabesh Gilead for their king of Israel
8. Abner makes Ishbosheth king of Israel
12. A mortal skirmish between twelve of Abner's and twelve of Joab's men.
18. Asahel is slain
25. At Abner's motion, Joab sounds a retreat
32. Asahel's burial














David also took the men who were with him
This phrase highlights David's leadership and the loyalty of his followers. The Hebrew word for "took" (לָקַח, laqach) implies a deliberate and purposeful action. David, anointed by God, is not acting alone; he is a leader who values community and fellowship. The men "who were with him" had been with David during his time of hardship and exile, demonstrating their unwavering loyalty. This reflects the biblical principle of godly leadership, where a leader is not isolated but surrounded by faithful companions who share in the mission and vision.

each with his household
The inclusion of "household" (בַּיִת, bayit) emphasizes the importance of family and community in the biblical narrative. In ancient Israel, the household was the basic unit of society, encompassing not just the nuclear family but extended family and servants. This phrase indicates that David's move to Hebron was not just a military or political maneuver but a communal and familial one. It underscores the biblical value of family unity and the idea that God's plans often involve entire households, not just individuals.

and they settled in the towns of Hebron
The act of settling (יָשַׁב, yashab) signifies a transition from a nomadic or unsettled life to one of stability and permanence. Hebron, a significant city in Judah, is rich in biblical history. It was the place where Abraham, the patriarch, settled and where he was buried. By settling in Hebron, David is connecting with his ancestral roots and fulfilling God's promise to establish him as king. This move is both strategic and symbolic, as Hebron was a city of refuge and a Levitical city, representing both safety and spiritual significance. The phrase reflects God's faithfulness in providing a place of rest and establishment for His chosen leader, David, and his followers.

(3) Dwelt in the cities of Hebron.--David's whole force of 600 men, with their families, accompanied him, and made their permanent settlement in the towns of the district to which Hebron gave its name

Verse 3. - They dwelt in the cities of Hebron. Not only had David wives, whom he took with him to Hebron, but many of his warriors were married, and thus they and their households formed a numerous body of people, for whom Hebron could scarcely find accommodation. Moreover they had flocks and herds captured from the Amalekites, for which they needed pasturage. And therefore David dispersed them in the towns and villages of which Hebron was the capital, posting them in such a manner as to render it easy for him to summon them together, while taking care that they did not injure his tribesmen, or dispossess them of their lauds. We may feel sure that he consulted the chief men of Hebron as to these arrangements, and obtained their approval.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
David also
דָוִ֖ד (ḏā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

took
הֶעֱלָ֥ה (he·‘ĕ·lāh)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

the men
וַאֲנָשָׁ֧יו (wa·’ă·nā·šāw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

who
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

were with him,
עִמּ֛וֹ (‘im·mōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

each
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

with his household,
וּבֵית֑וֹ (ū·ḇê·ṯōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

and they settled
וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ (way·yê·šə·ḇū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in the towns
בְּעָרֵ֥י (bə·‘ā·rê)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 5892: Excitement

near Hebron.
חֶבְרֽוֹן׃ (ḥeḇ·rō·wn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2275: Hebron -- 'association, league', a city in southern Judah


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OT History: 2 Samuel 2:3 His men who were with him did (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 2:2
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