2 Samuel 2:1-4

2 Samuel 2:1-4

[1] 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.  [2] So David  went up  thither, and his two  wives  also, Ahinoam  the Jezreelitess,  and Abigail  Nabal's  wife  the Carmelite.  [3] that were with him did David  bring up,  every man  with his household:  and they dwelt  in the cities  of Hebron.  [4] of Judah  came,  and there they anointed  David  king  over the house  of Judah.  And they told  David,  saying,  of Jabeshgilead  were they that buried  Saul. 

What does 2 Samuel 2:1-4 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

"Without doubt this portion [1] forms the crux of the book. Here the fertility motif reaches a peak. The thesis of the author-that Israel is blessed with fertility when the nation (and the epitome of the nation, the king) is following the covenant-is demonstrated in these chapters. The king, the ark (representing the presence of God and the Word of God, the covenant), and fertility are all intertwined in a beautifully artistic way." [2]
David again expressed his dependence on God by asking, probably by using the sacred lots (cf. 1 Samuel 14:37-42; 1 Samuel 23:9-11; 1 Samuel 30:7-8; 2 Samuel 19 , 23) or by consulting a seer (cf. 1 Samuel 28:6; 2 Samuel 7:2-3), where God wanted him to relocate. He realized that he could not make the wisest choice alone since he did not have God"s perspective. He wanted God to use him most effectively, so he allowed God to place him in that spot. The territory of Judah was the divine choice. That was David"s tribal homeland and where he had the greatest acceptance (cf. 1 Samuel 30:26-30). Hebron stood about19 miles south-southwest of Jerusalem on the highest promontory in the Judean hill country. [3] 2 Samuel 2:1 gives the key to David"s triumphs, namely, his dependence on God. 2 Samuel 2:2 gives the key to his tragedy, namely, his relationships with women (cf. Genesis 2:24). This was David"s second anointing (in1011 B.C.; cf. 1 Samuel 16:13). It represented a formal acknowledgment that the people of Judah viewed David as the Lord"s anointed.