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David Learns of Saul’s Death
Now it came about after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David stayed two days in Ziklag.
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And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. And it happened when he came to David, he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.
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Then David said to him, “From where do you come?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
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David said to him, “How did things go? Please tell me.” And he said, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead; and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”
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Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
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Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so also did all the men who were with him.
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Then David said to the young man who informed him, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.”
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And David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to reach out with your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”
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Then David called one of the young men and said, “Come forward, put him to death.” So he struck him and he died.
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And David said to him, “Your blood is on your head, because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have finished off the Lord’s anointed.’”
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David’s Song of Mourning for Saul and Jonathan
Then David sang this song of mourning over Saul and his son Jonathan,
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David Made King over Judah
Then it came about afterward that 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, “To Hebron.”
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So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.
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And David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they settled in the cities of Hebron.
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Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”
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So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, “May you be blessed of the Lord because you have shown this kindness to Saul your lord, and have buried him.
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Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he was king for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.
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And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
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And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, Abner’s men on the one side of the pool and Joab’s men on the other side of the pool.
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So they got up and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.
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That day the battle was very severe, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David.
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Then Joab returned from pursuing Abner; but he gathered all the people together, and nineteen of David’s servants were missing, besides Asahel.
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However, the servants of David had struck and killed many of Benjamin and Abner’s men; 360 men were dead.
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The House of David Strengthened
Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David became steadily stronger, while the house of Saul became steadily weaker.
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Sons were born to David in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
