2 Samuel 5:1-12
5:1 All the tribes [a representative group (the elders of the tribes) rather than all the people (cf. 1 Chron. 12:23-40)] of Israel [without a ruler after the deaths of Ish-Bosheth and Abner] came to David at Hebron [David’s Judean capital located 20 miles south of Jerusalem] and said, [note three factors that convinced Israel’s elders that David should be their new leader…] [1] “We are your own flesh and blood [they could trace their lineage back through Jacob’s sons to Abraham just like David].

5:2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, [2] you [a proven military leader] were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns [read 1 Sam. 18:6-7 re: David’s abilities as a soldier and general]. [3] And the LORD said to you [these words indicate that the elders were aware of God’s earlier words concerning David (1 Sam. 16:1-4,12)], ‘You [David] will shepherd [describes the role God intended for Israel’s kings; as a shepherd David had cared for his father’s sheep (1 Sam. 16:11)] my people Israel, and you [David] will become their ruler [leader; one in front of the people].’”

Note: The word “shepherd” describes the future ruler God would send (Ezek. 34:23). Jesus Christ is the perfect Shepherd (Jn. 10:1-18).

5:3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact [or “cut a covenant”] with them at Hebron before the LORD [indicates that the ceremony had religious as well as political significance], and they [“all the elders of Israel”] anointed [David first anointed by Samuel (1 Sam. 16:13) and later by the men of Judah (2 Sam. 2:4); this was David’s third anointing] David king over Israel.

5:4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years [the traditional length of a generation (Num. 32:13; Josh. 5:6); Solomon also reigned forty years (1 Kings 11:42)].

5:5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all [indicates a united nation] Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

5:6 The king [David] and his men [David’s private army (cf. 1 Sam. 23:13)] marched to Jerusalem [located between Judah in south and tribe of Ephraim in north; situated on mountain plateau approx. 2,500 feet above sea level] to attack the Jebusites [part of the native population of Canaan; appear in lists of inhabitants of Canaan that Israel would defeat (Ex. 23:23; Deut, 7:1-2], who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off [a boast that the city was impregnable].” They thought, “David cannot get in here [cf. 1 Chron. 11:5].”

5:7 Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion [first mention of Zion in Bible; the hill on which David built his new capital], the City of David.

5:8 On that day, David said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft [cf. 1 Chron. 11:6] to reach those ‘lame and blind’ [the Jebusites] who are David’s enemies.” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ [the Jebusites] will not enter the [David’s] palace.”

5:9 [1 Chron. 11:5-8] David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the supporting terraces inward.

5:10 [1 Chron. 11:9] And he became more and more powerful, because [the reason for David’s success lay in more than his leadership ability and military skill] the LORD God Almighty was with him.

5:11 Now Hiram [later assisted Solomon in building the temple (1 Kings 5:1-12)] king of Tyre [an important Phoenician city] sent messengers to David [Hiram interested in maintaining good relations with David], along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.

5:12 And David knew that the LORD [the true source of his successes and blessings] had established him as king [David was both a good military and spiritual leader] over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for [note the reason God had brought David to power…] the sake of his people Israel.

Note: David acknowledged God’s hand at work in his life. What are some ways you can acknowledge God’s hand at work in your life?