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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

2 Samuel 2:1-5

2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 Samuel 2:1 Judah makes David its king. Saul’s general Abner, however, seeks to restore Saul’s kingdom with Saul’s son Ish-bosheth as king. During the struggle between the two kingdoms, Abner, who has decided to go with David, is killed by David’s commander Joab. Later, Ish-bosheth is killed by two of his own men, but David executes them for murder. With no candidate for king in the house of Saul, all of Israel unites to anoint the hero David as king. There are many cases of Israelites’ shedding the blood of fellow Israelites, and this is tragic, but the narrator holds David innocent in each case, and thus he is qualified to be king over all Israel.

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See also 2 Samuel 2:1-5 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER II _David, by the direction of God, goes up to Hebron, and is_ _there anointed king over the house of Judah_, 1-4. _He congratulates the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead on their_ _kindness in...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    ENQUIRED OF THE LORD - Through Abiathar, the high priest. The death of Saul and Jonathan had entirely changed David’s position, and therefore he needed divine guidance how to act under the new circums...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    2. DAVID ANOINTED KING OVER JUDAH CHAPTER 2:1-7 _ 1. David's inquiry of the Lord (2 Samuel 2:1)_ 2. Anointed king over Judah (2 Samuel 2:4) 3. His message to the men of Jabesh-gilead (2 Samuel 2:5...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    2 SAMUEL 2-6. (J). APART FROM MINOR ADDITIONS AND CHANGES, IT IS VERY COMMONLY HELD THAT THESE CHAPTER S FORM A CONTINUOUS NARRATIVE FROM THE SAME SOURCE. 2 Samuel 2:1 to 2 Samuel 3:5. Civil War betw...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    ENQUIRED. Probably by Urim and Thummim, in the breastplate of Abiathar the High Priest, who was with David (1 Samuel 22:20). THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    2 Samuel 2:1-7. David anointed King over Judah at Hebron. His message to the Gileadites 1. _after this_ After the defeat of Israel and the death of Saul and Jonathan, David saw that the way was clear...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AND HE SAID, UNTO HEBRON— Though God had appointed David to the kingdom, he would not pretend to take upon him the administration of affairs without immediately applying himself to him, by Abiathar th...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    2. David's Reign begun in Hebron, 2 Samuel 2:1-32. _David, King in Hebron._ 2 Samuel 2:1-7 And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the citie...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTER THIS, THAT DAVID INQUIRED OF THE LORD, SAYING, SHALL I GO UP INTO ANY OF THE CITIES OF JUDAH? AND THE LORD SAID UNTO HIM, GO UP. AND DAVID SAID, WHITHER SHALL I GO UP? AND H...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    DAVID MADE KING OVER JUDAH, ISHDOSHETH OVER ISRAEL. ASAHEL SLAIN BY ABNER 1. Shall I go up?] The defeat and death of Saul had entirely changed David's position. He had, for some time to come, nothing...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    DAVID, THE GREAT KING OF ISRAEL 2 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 2 DAVID BECOMES THE KING OF *JUDAH V1 After this, David asked the *Lord, ‘Shall I go to a town in *Judah?’ The *Lord said, ‘Yes.’...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    ENQUIRED OF THE LORD. — At this important juncture of affairs, David’s first care is to know the Divine will. His inquiry was, doubtless, made through the high priest Abiathar, as in 1 Samuel 23:9 (co...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יְהִ֣י אַֽחֲרֵי ־כֵ֗ן וַ יִּשְׁאַל֩ דָּוִ֨

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER II _ BEGINNING OF DAVID'S REIGN AT HEBRON._ 2 Samuel 2:1. THE death of Saul did not end David's troubles. nor was it for a good many years that he became free to employ his whole energies fo...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    A DIVIDED PEOPLE 2 Samuel 2:1 David's habit of inquiring of the Lord was not discontinued when he ascended the throne. He allowed his steps still to be ordered by the Lord, who delighted in His serv...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The first act of David was to inquire of God what he should do. Without hesitation, his own tribe crowned him king. His attitude toward the men of Jabesh-gilead was in the highest sense politic, and y...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And it came to pass after this, that David (a) enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? An...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Juda. David thought it was his duty to co-operate with the designs of Providence. He consults the Lord (Calmet) by means of Abiathar, (Abulensis) or by a prophet. (Josephus) --- Hebron, ennobled by t...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS This chapter contains the relation of David's accession to the throne of Hebron, A party however is formed by Abner the Captain of Saul's host, in favour of Ish-bosheth, Saul's son; which be...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We have seen the sorrowful circumstances out of which arose the first desire to have a king in Israel, and the remarkable fact that, although it was a sin, God nevertheless did not put the people back...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 AND 2. Nevertheless piety, and pious (and hence generous) sentiments, were genuine in David. He did not pretend to feel for Saul's misfortunes, and then sei...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTER THIS,.... After David had heard of the death of Saul and Jonathan, and made a lamentation over them, perhaps the next day; since David and his men are only said to mourn, and...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _David inquired of the Lord_ By Urim. When he had given a due time to his grief and mourning for Saul and Jonathan, he applied himself to God, who had appointed him to the kingdom, to know by what mea...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    [SAUL BURIED.] 1 Dauid by Gods direction, with his companie goeth vp to Hebron, where he is made King of Iudah. 5 He commendeth them of Iabesh Gilead, for their kindnesse to Saul. 8 Abner maketh Is...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And it came to pass after this that David enquired of the Lord, by means of the Urim and Thummim of the high priest. 1 Samuel 23:2; 1 Samuel 30:7, SAYING, SHALL I GO UP, namely, from the low lands of...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    DAVID AT HEBRON...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    David was by no means in a hurry to take advantage of the situation that had been brought about by Saul's death. Though he had not enquired of the Lord as to going down to king Achish at Gath (1 Samue...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    2 SAMUEL CHAPTER 2 David, by God's direction, with his company goeth up to Hebron, where he is made king of Judah, 2 SAMUEL 2:1. He commendeth them of Jabesh-gilead for burying Saul, 2 SAMUEL 2:5. Abn...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    2 Samuel 2:1 this H310 David H1732 inquired H7592 (H8799) LORD H3068 saying H559 (H8800) up H5927 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    DAVID IS ANOINTED AS KING OVER JUDAH AND ISH-BOSHETH RECEIVES THE CROWN OF ISRAEL (2 SAMUEL 2:1). After consulting YHWH David moved his men into Judah while still retaining authority over Ziklag, and...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: David received as King of Judah. Abner makes Ish-bosheth king over eleven tribes. Civil war. CHARACTERS: God, David, Abner, Ish-bosheth, Joab, Abishai, Asahel. CONCLUSION: We may expect, o...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    2 Samuel 2:12. _Mahanaim._ See Genesis 32:2. 2 Samuel 2:14. _Abner said to Joab, &c._ He did this in confidence that his twelve men would conquer, and make Joab's army flee. Why had he not challenged...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the Lord._ STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS David's sense of dependence upon God! 1. His passive patience is exquisitely touching, and presents such a co...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES— 2 Samuel 2:1. “HEBRON.” “A city of Judah, situated among the mountains (Joshua 20:7), twenty Roman miles south of Jerusalem, and the same distance north of Beersheba. He...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 2:1 UNTO HEBRON. As soon as David had assuaged his grief, his thoughts would naturally turn towards his country. Fuller news would reach him every day respecting the movements of...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the LORD, and he said, Shall I go up to Judah (2 Samuel 2:1)? Now to me it is interesting as we observe David, he doesn't take any actions withou...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 29:7; 1 Kings 2:11; 1 Samuel 23:2; 1 Samuel 23:4;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Enquired — By Urim. Thus David begins at the right end, and lays his foundation in God's counsel and assistance. Shall I go — He asked not whether he should take the kingdom; for that was appointed be...

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