2 Samuel 1 and 2:1-5
David had been named by God to be king over the people of Israel while he was a boy tending his father’s sheep, but it was a long, time before he really became king. He had much trouble first, because King Saul envied him and tried many times to kill him.
At last King Saul killed himself, after being badly wounded in a battle with the enemy, and his son Jonathan was killed the same day (1 Sam. 31).
At that time David was staying in another country for fear of Saul, and a man who had seen the battle came to tell him that Saul was dead. He brought the king’s crown to David and expected he would be greatly pleased to hear his story, and even told what was untrue to win David’s favor. But David was not glad to hear the enemy had defeated the army of Israel and he and his men wept, and David mourned very much that Jonathan was dead.
After Saul’s death, David did not need to fear to go to the land of Israel, yet he did not go back until he asked of the Lord if he should go, and to what place. The Lord told him to go to Hebron, which was not far away, and there he was made king over the tribe of Judah. David’s father was from the family of Judah.
For a time many of the other people of Israel wanted one of the sons of Saul to be their king. But after a few years those men also, wanted David to be their king because they knew he was the one God had said should be their leader.
So, very many men from all parts of the land came to Hebron and made David king of all Israel. The people from other places brought their camels, oxen, and mules carrying loads of meat, meal, and fruit, so they had plenty to feast together for three days. There was great joy among them, because they were honoring the king God had chosen (1 Chron. 12).
After this David and his men took a strong city on Mount Zion, northeast of Hebron, which had not been ruled by Israel before, but belonged to their land. And this place became the center city of all Israel, Jerusalem, called the “City of David,” and it was his home the rest of his life. A special house was built for him there, which must has been very different from living in the dark, rocky, desert cave.
With the help of his brave soldiers, David drove the enemies from the land of Israel. The reason David became so great a king was because he asked the Lord what he should do, and tried to keep His Word, which king Saul had not done. David showed great kindness to the ones who had been against him, and was loved by his people. When he himself sinned he confessed his sins to God and was truly sorry.
How old was David when he was made king? (2 Sam. 5:1-61Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. 2Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. 3So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel. 4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. 6And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. (2 Samuel 5:1‑6). Read also 1 Chron. 1.2:38-40.
ML 11/20/1938