David Anointed King of Israel

Then all the tribes of Israel (A)came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, (B)we are your bone and flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, (C)it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, (D)‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince[a] over Israel.’” So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, (E)and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron (F)before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and (G)he reigned forty years. (H)At Hebron he reigned over Judah (I)seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 5:2 Or leader
  2. 2 Samuel 5:5 Dead Sea Scroll lacks verses 4–5

David becomes king of Israel and Judah

All the Israelite tribes came to David at Hebron and said, “Listen: We are your very own flesh and bone. In the past, when Saul ruled over us, you were the one who led Israel out to war and back. What’s more, the Lord told you, You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be Israel’s leader.

So all the Israelite elders came to the king at Hebron. King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

David was 30 years old when he became king, and he ruled for forty years. He ruled over Judah for seven and a half years in Hebron. He ruled thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah in Jerusalem.

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