GOD ESTABLISHES THE KINGDOM OF DAVID, Dr. Samuel Lee
DAVID ANOINTED KING OVER JUDAH
Passage: 2Samuel 2:1~11  
Key verse: 1
David Anointed King Over Judah
2 In the course of time, David inquired(A) of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked.
The Lord said, “Go up.”
David asked, “Where shall I go?”
“To Hebron,”(B) the Lord answered.
2 So David went up there with his two wives,(C) Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail,(D) the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 David also took the men who were with him,(E) each with his family, and they settled in Hebron(F) and its towns. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron,(G) and there they anointed(H) David king over the tribe of Judah.
When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead(I) who had buried Saul, 5 he sent messengers to them to say to them, “The Lord bless(J) you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. 6 May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness,(K) and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. 7 Now then, be strong(L) and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them.”
War Between the Houses of David and Saul(M)
8 Meanwhile, Abner(N) son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth(O) son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.(P) 9 He made him king over Gilead,(Q) Ashuri(R) and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.(S)
10 Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David. 11 The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months.(T)
Cross references
- 2 Samuel 2:1 : S 1Sa 23:2, 11-12
- 2 Samuel 2:1 : S Ge 13:18; S 23:19
- 2 Samuel 2:2 : S 1Sa 25:43
- 2 Samuel 2:2 : S 1Sa 25:42
- 2 Samuel 2:3 : S 1Sa 27:2; 1Ch 12:22
- 2 Samuel 2:3 : S Ge 13:18; 23:2; 37:14
- 2 Samuel 2:4 : S 1Sa 30:31
- 2 Samuel 2:4 : S 1Sa 2:35; 2Sa 5:3-5; 1Ch 12:23-40
- 2 Samuel 2:4 : S Jdg 21:8; S 1Sa 11:1
- 2 Samuel 2:5 : S Jdg 17:2; S 1Sa 23:21; 2Ti 1:16
- 2 Samuel 2:6 : Ex 34:6
- 2 Samuel 2:7 : S Jos 1:6; S Jdg 5:21
- 2 Samuel 2:8 : 3:2-5pp — 1Ch 3:1-4
- 2 Samuel 2:8 : S 1Sa 14:50; S 2Sa 3:27
- 2 Samuel 2:8 : 2Sa 4:5; 1Ch 8:33; 9:39
- 2 Samuel 2:8 : S Ge 32:2
- 2 Samuel 2:9 : S Nu 32:26
- 2 Samuel 2:9 : S Jos 19:24-31
- 2 Samuel 2:9 : 1Ch 12:29
- 2 Samuel 2:11 : 2Sa 5:5
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. David anointed king over Judah (1-4a)
David knew that he should be king. But he did not act on his own. He humbly inquired of the Lord about what he should do next. God directed him to Hebron, where the people of one accord made him king of Judah. David carefully followed God's leading and timing and did not go ahead of the Lord. Then, God could establish him as king, first in Judah.
2. Moving towards unity (4b-11)
The people of Jabesh Gilead bravely recovered Saul's body and gave him a proper burial. When David heard of this, he did not misunderstand their actions as betrayal. Rather, he commended them for their faithfulness and kindness to Saul. Hence, David's first action as king moved towards unity and obtaining the support of courageous people like them. Meanwhile, Saul's cousin, Abner, the head of Israel's army, set up Saul's weak son Ish-bosheth as king of Israel. Thus, David had to wait on God's timing to make him king over all Israel.
Prayer: Lord, help me to humbly follow your leading and wait on your timing.
One Word: Humbly follow God's leading and timing