2 Samuel 2:1-7
New English Translation
David is Anointed King
2 Afterward David inquired of the Lord, “Should I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” The Lord told him, “Go up.” David asked, “Where should I go?” The Lord replied,[a] “To Hebron.” 2 So David went up, along with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail, formerly the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 3 David also brought along the men who were with him, each with his family. They settled in the cities[b] of Hebron. 4 The men of Judah came and there they anointed David as king over the people[c] of Judah.
David was told,[d] “The people[e] of Jabesh Gilead are the ones who buried Saul.” 5 So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead and told them, “May you be blessed by the Lord because you have shown this kindness[f] to your lord Saul by burying him. 6 Now may the Lord show you true kindness![g] I also will reward you,[h] because you have done this deed. 7 Now be courageous[i] and prove to be valiant warriors, for your lord Saul is dead. The people of Judah have anointed me as king over them.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 2:1 tn Heb “he said.” The referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
- 2 Samuel 2:3 tc The expression “the cities of Hebron” is odd; we would expect the noun to be in the singular, if used at all. Although the Syriac Peshitta has the expected reading “in Hebron,” the MT is clearly the more difficult reading and should probably be retained here.
- 2 Samuel 2:4 tn Heb “house.”
- 2 Samuel 2:4 tn Heb “and they told David.” The subject appears to be indefinite, allowing one to translate the verb as passive with David as subject.
- 2 Samuel 2:4 tn Heb “men.”
- 2 Samuel 2:5 tn Or “loyalty.”
- 2 Samuel 2:6 tn Or “loyalty and devotion.”
- 2 Samuel 2:6 tn Heb “will do with you this good.”
- 2 Samuel 2:7 tn Heb “let your hands be strong.”
2 Samuel 2:1-7
International Standard Version
David Becomes King over Judah
2 Some time later, David inquired of the Lord to ask, “Am I to move[a] to any one of the cities of Judah?”
The Lord told him, “Go.”
So David asked, “To which one?”
He replied, “To Hebron.”
2 So David went there, along with his two wives Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, widow of Nabal from Carmel. 3 David brought his army[b] with him, each soldier accompanied by his household, and they settled in the cities of Hebron. 4 After this, the army of Judah arrived, and they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
There they informed David, “The men of Jabesh-gilead buried Saul.”
5 So David sent messengers to the people[c] of Jabesh-gilead and told them, “May the Lord bless you, because you showed gracious love like[d] this to your lord Saul by burying him. 6 Now may the Lord reward you with gracious love, as well as faithfulness, to you, too! And I will also reward you because you did this good thing. 7 So strengthen yourselves, and be valiant in heart, because your lord Saul has died, and the household of Judah has anointed me to be king over them.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 2:1 Lit. to go up
- 2 Samuel 2:3 Lit. men
- 2 Samuel 2:5 Lit. men
- 2 Samuel 2:5 The Heb. lacks like
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