Bible Strands
2 Samuel 2:4
Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator reports that the men of Judah traveled to Hebron and anointed David king over Judah, then relayed to him that the men of Jabesh-gilead were responsible for burying Saul. This occurs immediately after David relocates with his household to Hebron following Saul’s death.
The words — The verb וַ/יִּמְשְׁחוּ (va/i.yim.she.chu) means "and they anointed," marking the formal act of installing David as king. The noun אַנְשֵׁי (an.Shei) translates to "the men of" or "the people of," identifying the Judahite group performing the action.
The thread — The location Hebron anchors David’s seven-and-a-half-year reign over Judah before his universal kingship (2 Samuel 5:5), while the mention of Jabesh-gilead recalls their earlier burial of Saul (1 Samuel 31:11) and prompts David’s subsequent diplomatic outreach (2 Samuel 2:5).
Why it lands — The text requires acknowledgment that political authority shifted through formal coronation in Hebron rather than mere succession, while simultaneously testing whether the reader notes the narrative link between Saul’s burial and David’s emerging legitimacy.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And 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.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 5:5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
- 1 Samuel 31:11 When the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,
- 2 Samuel 5:3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel.
- 1 Samuel 16:13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.
- 1 Chronicles 11:3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where David made a covenant with them before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD through Samuel.
- Genesis 49:8 Judah, your brothers shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the necks of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down to you.
- 2 Samuel 2:7 Now then, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me as their king.”
- 2 Samuel 2:11 And the length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
- 2 Samuel 5:17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.
- 2 Samuel 19:11 Then King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace, since the talk of all Israel has reached the king at his quarters?