2 Samuel 2:1-11

1And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of Yhwh, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And Yhwh said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron. 2So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite. 3And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. 4And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh–gilead were they that buried Saul.

5And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh–gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of Yhwh, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. 6And now Yhwh shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. 7Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.1

8But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, took Ish–bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;23 9And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10Ish–bosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.4