David Crowned King of Israel

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and acknowledged that they were his bone and his flesh. They reminded him that even when Saul was king over them, it was David who led Israel out and brought them in. Furthermore, the tribes stated that the LORD had told David he would shepherd His people Israel and be captain over them (2 Samuel 5:1-2).

Following this declaration, all the elders of Israel arrived at Hebron to meet with the king. David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD. The text does not say what specific words were spoken during the formation of this league. After the agreement was established, the elders anointed David king over Israel (2 Samuel 5:3).

At the time he began his reign over the entire nation, David was thirty years old. He reigned for a total of forty years. The record specifies that in Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. The text does not say how the transition from Hebron to Jerusalem occurred within these specific verses (2 Samuel 5:4-5).