The Meaning of 2 Samuel 2:1 Explained

2 Samuel 2:1

KJV: 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 he said, Unto Hebron.

YLT: And it cometh to pass afterwards, that David asketh at Jehovah, saying, 'Do I go up into one of the cities of Judah?' and Jehovah saith unto him, 'Go up.' And David saith, 'Whither do I go up?' and He saith, 'To Hebron.'

Darby: And it came to pass after this that David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up into one of the cities of Judah? And Jehovah said to him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.

ASV: And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And Jehovah said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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 said,  Unto Hebron. 

What does 2 Samuel 2:1 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 2:1-11 - A Divided People
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 servant's way. From how many blunders might we be saved, if we leaned less on our own understanding and trusted Him with all our hearts! Those who believe like this need not make haste.
This anointing in Hebron-the second in David's life-is parallel with the unction of the Holy One received by our Lord on His ascension. "Having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit," said Peter on the day of Pentecost, "He hath shed forth this." The house of Saul was still determined to rule. Its seat was across the Jordan. Is it not a type of the fashion of this world, which is destined to pass away? Between those who refuse and those who accept the Cross, with its separating death, there can be no peace. The war will be long and painful, but the result must end in the victory of the house of David, of which our Lord is both Root and Offspring, Revelation 22:16. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 2

1  David, by God's direction, with his company goes up to Hebron
4  where he is made king of Judah
5  He commends them of Jabesh Gilead for their king of Israel
8  Abner makes Ishbosheth king of Israel
12  A mortal skirmish between twelve of Abner's and twelve of Joab's men
18  Asahel is slain
25  At Abner's motion, Joab sounds a retreat
32  Asahel's burial

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 2:1 mean?

And it happened after this that inquired David of Yahweh saying shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah and said Yahweh to him go up And said where shall I go up and He said to Hebron
וַיְהִ֣י אַֽחֲרֵי־ כֵ֗ן וַיִּשְׁאַל֩ דָּוִ֨ד בַּֽיהוָ֤ה ׀ לֵאמֹר֙ הַאֶעֱלֶ֗ה בְּאַחַת֙ עָרֵ֣י ؟ יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוָ֛ה אֵלָ֖יו עֲלֵ֑ה וַיֹּ֧אמֶר אָ֥נָה ؟ אֶעֱלֶ֖ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר חֶבְרֹֽנָה

וַיְהִ֣י  And  it  happened 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
אַֽחֲרֵי־  after 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
כֵ֗ן  this 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
וַיִּשְׁאַל֩  that  inquired 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁאַל 
Sense: to ask, enquire, borrow, beg.
דָּוִ֨ד  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
בַּֽיהוָ֤ה ׀  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לֵאמֹר֙  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַאֶעֱלֶ֗ה  shall  I  go  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
בְּאַחַת֙  to  one 
Parse: Preposition-b, Number, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
עָרֵ֣י  of  the  cities 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
؟ יְהוּדָ֔ה  of  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֛ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֵלָ֖יו  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
עֲלֵ֑ה  go  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אָ֥נָה  where 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: אָן  
Sense: where?, whither? (of place).
؟ אֶעֱלֶ֖ה  shall  I  go  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר  and  He  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
חֶבְרֹֽנָה  to  Hebron 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: חֶבְרֹון 
Sense: a city in south Judah approx 20 south of Jerusalem and approx 20 miles (30 km) north of Beersheba and near where Abraham built an altar.