2 Samuel 2:1-9 ▼

1 Then it came about afterwards that David inquired of the LORD, saying, |Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?| And the LORD said to him, |Go up.| So David said, |Where shall I go up?| And He said, |To Hebron.|

2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.

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

4 Then the men of Judah came and there anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, |It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.|

5 David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, |May you be blessed of the LORD because you have shown this kindness to Saul your lord, and have buried him.

6 |Now may the LORD show lovingkindness and truth to you; and I also will show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing.

7 |Now therefore, let your hands be strong and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.|

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

9 He made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, even over all Israel.