2 Samuel 2:1-9 ▼

1 After this, David asked the LORD, |Should I go to one of the cities of Judah?| |Go,| the LORD answered him. |Where should I go?| David asked. |To Hebron,| the LORD replied.

2 David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail (who had been Nabal's wife) from Carmel.

3 David took his men and their families with him, and they settled in the towns around Hebron.

4 Then the people of Judah came to Hebron and anointed David to be king over the tribe of Judah. They told David, |The people of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.|

5 So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead. He said to them, |May the LORD bless you because you showed kindness to your master Saul by burying him.

6 May the LORD always show you kindness. I, too, will be good to you because you did this.

7 Now, be strong and courageous. Because your master Saul is dead, the tribe of Judah has anointed me to be their king.|

8 Ner's son Abner, commander of Saul's army, took Saul's son Ishbosheth and brought him to Mahanaim.

9 Abner made him king of Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, that is, all Israel.