David Crowned King of Israel

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and told him, 'Here we are, your own flesh and blood'. 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 ruler over Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-2).

Following this declaration, all the elders of Israel arrived at Hebron to meet with the king. David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. The text does not say what specific words were spoken during the making of this covenant. 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).