David At Hebron And Ish-Bosheth At Mahanaim

1After this, David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up into one of the cities of Judah?” And Yahweh said to him, “Go up.” Then David said, “Where shall I go up?” And he said, “To Hebron.”

2So David went up there, and also his two wives: Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

3And David brought up the men who were with him, each man with his household, and they settled in the towns of Hebron.

4Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, "The men of Jabesh-gilead were the ones who buried Saul."

5Then David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, “Blessed are you by Yahweh, because you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him.”

6And now may Yahweh show you steadfast love and faithfulness. And I also will do this good to you, because you have done this thing.

7Let your hands be strong, and be valiant men, for your lord Saul is dead, and the house of Judah also has anointed me king over them.

8But Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Ish-bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.

9and made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

10Ish-bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

11The length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.