-
David Anointed King Over Judah
In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered.
-
David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns.
-
Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah. When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul,
-
The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months.
-
They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.
-
Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel;
-
and the sixth, Ithream the son of David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.
-
Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjamin wanted to do.
-
When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men.
-
Joab Murders Abner
Just then David’s men and Joab returned from a raid and brought with them a great deal of plunder. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.
-
Now when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and he died.
-
They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.
-
Ish-Bosheth Murdered
When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed.
-
They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy, who tried to kill you. This day the Lord has avenged my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”
-
So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them. They cut off their hands and feet and hung the bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-Bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb at Hebron.
-
David Becomes King Over Israel
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood.
-
When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.
-
In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
-
After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.
-
At the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the Lord.
-
While your servant was living at Geshur in Aram, I made this vow: ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron.’”
-
The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he went to Hebron.
-
Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’”
