David Made King over Judah

2 Then it came about afterward that ^(A)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, “^(B)To Hebron.” ² So David went up there, and ^(C)his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the ^[a]widow of Nabal the Carmelite. ³ And ^(D)David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they settled in the cities of Hebron. ⁴ Then the men of Judah came, and there they ^(E)anointed David king over the house of Judah.

And they told David, saying, “It was ^(F)the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.” ⁵ So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, “^(G)May you be blessed of the Lord because you have ^[b]shown this kindness to Saul your lord, and have buried him. ⁶ And now ^(H)may the Lord ^[c]show kindness and truth to you; and I also will ^[d]show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing. ⁷ Now then, let your hands be strong and be ^[e]valiant, since Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”