~ David Anointed King Over Judah ~

In the course of time,
David inquired 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," the Lord answered.

So David went up there with his two wives,
Ahinoam of Jezreel
and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
David also took the men who were with him,
each with his family,
and they settled in Hebron and its towns.
Then the men of Judah came to Hebron
and there they anointed David king
over the house of Judah.

. . . Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner,
the commander of Saul's army,
had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul
and brought him over to Mahanaim.
He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel,
and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.

Ish-Bosheth son of Saul
was forty years old when he became king over Israel,
and he reigned two years.
the house of Judah, however, followed David.
the length of time David was king in Hebron
over the house of Judah
was seven years and six months.

. . . The war between the house of Saul
and the house of David lasted a long time.
David grew stronger and stronger,
while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

(II Samuel 2:1-4, 8-11; 3:1)