1. And after these things David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go up into one of the cities of Juda? And the Lord said to him: Go up. And David said: Whither shall I go up? And he answered him: Into Hebron.
2. So David went up, and his two wives, Achinoam the Jezrahelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel:
3. And the men also that were with him, David brought up every man with his household: and they abode in the towns of Hebron.
4. And the men of Juda came, and anointed David there, to be king over the house of Juda. And it was told David, that the men of Jabes Galaad had buried Saul.
5. David therefore sent messengers to the men of Jabes Galaad, and said to them: Blessed be you to the Lord, who have shewn this mercy to your master Saul, and have buried him.
6. And now the Lord surely will render you mercy and truth, and I also will, requite you for this good turn, because you have done this thing.
7. Let your hands be strengthened, and be ye men of valour: for although your master Saul be dead, yet the house of Juda hath anointed me to be their king.
8. But Abner the son of Ner, general of Saul's army, took Isboseth the son of Saul, and led him about through the camp?
9. And made him king over Galaad, and, over Gessuri, and over Jezrahel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
10. Isboseth the son of Saul was forty years old when he began to reign over, Israel, and he reigned two years: and only the house of Juda followed David.
11. And the number of the days that David abode, reigning in Hebron over the house of Juda, was seven years and six months.
12. And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Isboseth the son of Saul, went out from the camp to Gabaon
13. And Joab the son of Sarvia, and the servants of David went out, and met them by the pool of Gabaon. And when they were come together, they sat down over against one another: the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side.