1. Some time later, David questioned the Lord, "Should I go to one of the towns in Judah?""Yes, go," the Lord told him."Which one should I go to?" David asked."To Hebron," the Lord replied.
2. So David went there, along with his two wives: Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal’s widow, from Carmel.
3. David also took the soldiers who were with him, each with his family, and they lived in the towns around Hebron.
4. Then the people of Judah came to Hebron and anointed David king over the house of Judah.When David was informed that it was the people of Jabesh-gilead who had buried Saul,
5. he sent messengers to the people of Jabesh-gilead. "The Lord bless you," he said to them, "for doing this loyal deed for your master Saul by burying him.
6. May the Lord now show you loyal love and faithfulness. I myself will also reward you because you did this.
7. So now take courage and be brave—yes, your master Saul is dead, but the house of Judah has anointed me king over them."
8. Meanwhile, Abner, Ner’s son, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, and brought him over to Mahanaim.
9. There he made him king over Gilead, the Geshurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel.
10. Saul’s son Ishbosheth was 40 years old when he became king over Israel, and he ruled for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.
11. The amount of time David ruled in Hebron over the house of Judah totaled seven and a half years.
12. Abner, Ner’s son, along with the soldiers of Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, left Mahanaim to go to Gibeon.
13. Joab, Zeruiah’s son, and David’s soldiers also came out and confronted them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat on one side of the pool; the other sat on the opposite side of the pool.