2 Samuel 2:1-11

Common English Bible

David made king in Hebron

2 Some time later, David questioned the Lord, “Should I go to one of the towns in Judah?”

“Yes, go,” the Lord told him.

“Which one should I go to?” David asked.

“To Hebron,” the Lord replied.

² So David went there, along with his two wives: Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal’s widow, from Carmel. ³ David also took the soldiers who were with him, each with his family, and they lived in the towns around Hebron. ⁴ Then the people of Judah came to Hebron and anointed David king over the house of Judah.

When David was informed that it was the people of Jabesh-gilead who had buried Saul, ⁵ he sent messengers to the people of Jabesh-gilead. “The Lord bless you,” he said to them, “for doing this loyal deed for your master Saul by burying him. ⁶ May the Lord now show you loyal love and faithfulness. I myself will also reward you because you did this. ⁷ So now take courage and be brave—yes, your master Saul is dead, but the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

Israel’s King Ishbosheth

⁸ Meanwhile, Abner, Ner’s son, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth,^[a] Saul’s son, and brought him over to Mahanaim. ⁹ There he made him king over Gilead, the Geshurites,^[b] Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel. ¹⁰ Saul’s son Ishbosheth was 40 years old when he became king over Israel, and he ruled for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David. ¹¹ The amount of time David ruled in Hebron over the house of Judah totaled seven and a half years.