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.”