David Anointed King of Judah

After this David (A)inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “To (B)Hebron.” So David went up there, and (C)his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. And David brought up (D)his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David (E)king over the house of Judah.

When they told David, (F)“It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,” David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, (G)“May you be blessed by the Lord, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord and buried him. Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing. Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for Saul your lord is dead, and (H)the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

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David, King of Judah

Some time later, David inquired of the Lord:(A) “Should I go to one of the towns of Judah?”

The Lord answered him, “Go.”

Then David asked, “Where should I go?”

“To Hebron,”(B) the Lord replied.

So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail, the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.(C) In addition, David brought the men who were with him, each one with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.(D) Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.(E) They told David: “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”(F)

David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, “The Lord bless you, because you have shown this kindness to Saul your lord when you buried him. Now, may the Lord show kindness and faithfulness to you, and I will also show the same goodness to you because you have done this deed. Therefore, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

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