²² Indeed, from day to day people kept coming to David to help him until there was a great army, like an army of God.

Abner Defects to David

3 There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

¹⁴ He replied, “Neither, but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and he said to him, “What do you command your servant, my lord?”^(A)

² when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called that place Mahanaim.^[a](A)

² So David went up there, along with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.^{(A) 3} David brought up the men who were with him, every one with his household, and they settled in the towns of Hebron.^{(B) 4} Then the people of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.

When they told David, “It was the people of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,”^(C)