⁴ Then the men of Judah came to Hebron,^(A) and there they anointed^(B) David king over the tribe of Judah.

When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead^(C) who had buried Saul,

⁵ In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months,^(A) and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

¹¹ When the people of Jabesh Gilead^(A) heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, ¹² all their valiant men^(B) marched through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned^(C) them. ¹³ Then they took their bones^(D) and buried them under a tamarisk^(E) tree at Jabesh, and they fasted^(F) seven days.^(G)

³ When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant^(A) with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed^(B) David king over Israel.

³ When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, he made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed^(A) David king over Israel, as the Lord had promised through Samuel.

¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed^(A) him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord^(B) came powerfully upon David.^(C) Samuel then went to Ramah.

⁴² All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?”

¹¹ King David sent this message to Zadok^(A) and Abiathar, the priests: “Ask the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters?

David Defeats the Philistines^(A)

¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.^(B)

¹¹ The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months.^(A)