“Where did you come from?” David asked him. “I escaped from the camp of Israel,” he answered.

They mourned, cried, and fasted until evening because Saul, his son Jonathan, Yahweh’s army, and the nation of Israel had been defeated in battle.

“Your glory, Israel, lies dead on your hills. See how the mighty have fallen!

Daughters of Israel, cry over Saul, who dressed you in decorated, red clothes, who put gold jewelry on your clothes.

Abner Makes Ishbosheth King of Israel

Ner’s son Abner, commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ishbosheth and brought him to Mahanaim.

Abner made him king of Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, that is, all Israel.

Saul’s son Ishbosheth was 40 years old when he became king of Israel. He ruled for two years, but the tribe of Judah followed David.

Fierce fighting broke out that day, and David’s men defeated Abner and the men of Israel.

So Joab blew a ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped. They didn’t chase or fight Israel anymore.

‘I, Yahweh, will transfer the kingship from Saul’s family and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.’”

Then Abner sent messengers to David to speak on his behalf. “Who owns this country?” he asked. “Make an agreement with me,” he said. “I’ll support you and bring all Israel to you.”

Meanwhile, Abner sent the following message to the leaders of Israel: “For some time now you’ve wanted to make David your king.

Do it now, because Yahweh said about David: ‘I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and all their other enemies through my servant David.’”

Abner also spoke specifically to the people of Benjamin. Then Abner went directly to David in Hebron to tell him everything Israel and the entire tribe of Benjamin had approved.

Abner told David, “I must go now so that I can gather all Israel for you, Your Majesty. They will make a treaty with you, and you will rule everything your heart desires.” Then David dismissed Abner, who left peacefully.

That day all the people of Israel knew the king wasn’t responsible for killing Ner’s son Abner.

The king said to his officers, “Don’t you know that today a leader, a great man, has fallen in Israel?

Ishbosheth Is Murdered

When Saul’s son Ishbosheth heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost his courage, and all Israel was alarmed.

David Anointed King of Israel

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. “We are your own flesh and blood,” they said.

“Even in the past when Saul ruled us, you were the one who led Israel in battle. Yahweh has said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, the leader of Israel.’”

All the leaders of Israel had come to Hebron. King David made an agreement with them at Hebron in front of Yahweh. So they anointed David king of Israel.

In Hebron he ruled Judah for seven years and six months. In Jerusalem he ruled for 33 years over all Israel and Judah.

So David realized that Yahweh had established him as king of Israel and made his kingship famous for the sake of Israel, Yahweh’s people.

David Defeats the Philistines

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, all of them came to attack David. But David heard about it and went to the fortress.

David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem

David again assembled all the best soldiers in Israel, 30,000 men.