2 Samuel 2:4

the men of Judah came An assembly of David's own tribe was held in order to elect him king. No doubt he had previously secured the support of the elders. Cp. 1 Samuel 30:26.

they anointed David David had already been anointed privately by Samuel to mark God's choice of him as the future king, but it was natural that the ceremony should now be repeated publicly as the formal inauguration of his reign, and even a third time, when he was made king over all Israel (ch. 2 Samuel 5:3). Similarly Saul was first privately anointed (1 Samuel 10:1), and afterwards publicly installed in his office, and possibly anointed a second time (1 Samuel 11:14-15, note). On the significance of the rite of anointing see note on 1 Samuel 10:1.

And they told David The connexion is obscure. We should expect a fresh verse and paragraph. Apparently either the announcement was intended to indicate the quarter in which opposition to his authority was most probable, or it was an answer to David's inquiry whether the body of his predecessor had received fitting burial. In either case the embassy to the men of Jabesh was prompted by policy no less than by gratitude. If David could secure the support of the capital of Gilead (1 Samuel 11:1), he might reckon on speedily extending his power over the whole country. His conciliatory message is virtually an appeal to them to recognise him as Saul's legitimate successor.