1. After this, David asked the Lord, “Should I go to one of the cities of Judah?”“Go,” the Lord answered him.“Where should I go?” David asked.“To Hebron,” the Lord replied.
2. David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail (who had been Nabal’s wife) from Carmel.
3. David took his men and their families with him, and they settled in the towns around Hebron.
4. Then the people of Judah came to Hebron and anointed David to be king over the tribe of Judah.They told David, “The people of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.”
5. So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead. He said to them, “May the Lord bless you because you showed kindness to your master Saul by burying him.
6. May the Lord always show you kindness. I, too, will be good to you because you did this.
7. Now, be strong and courageous. Because your master Saul is dead, the tribe of Judah has anointed me to be their king.”
8. Ner’s son Abner, commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ishbosheth and brought him to Mahanaim.
9. Abner made him king of Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, that is, all Israel.