2 Samuel 2:1-10 ▼

1 Some time later, David inquired of the LORD to ask, |Am I to move to any one of the cities of Judah?| The LORD told him, |Go.| So David asked, |To which one?| He replied, |To Hebron.|

2 So David went there, along with his two wives Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, widow of Nabal from Carmel.

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

4 After this, the army of Judah arrived, and they anointed David king over the house of Judah. There they informed David, |The men of Jabesh-gilead buried Saul.|

5 So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh-gilead and told them, |May the LORD bless you, because you showed gracious love like this to your lord Saul by burying him.

6 Now may the Lord reward you with gracious love, as well as faithfulness, to you, too! And I will also reward you because you did this good thing.

7 So strengthen yourselves, and be valiant in heart, because your lord Saul has died, and the household of Judah has anointed me to be king over them.|

8 Meanwhile, Ner's son Abner, the commander of Saul's army, had taken Saul's son Ish-bosheth and brought him to Mahanaim.

9 He installed him as king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all of the rest of Israel.

10 Ish-bosheth began to reign over Israel at the age of 40 years, and he reigned for two years, even though Judah's lineage followed David.