2 Samuel 5:1-5

5. David Made King Over All Israel, 2 Samuel 5:1-15.

David King Over All Israel. 2 Samuel 5:1-5

Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

2 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.
3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel.
4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

1.

By whom were the tribes represented at the anointing of David? 2 Samuel 5:1

The tribes of Israel were represented at David's anointing by the elders, the rulers of the tribes. David had previously been anointed by Samuel. At Hebron he had been anointed by the men of Judah.

Now David was anointed the third time. This time he was anointed by all the tribes and peoples of Israel. A fuller account of David's being made king of Israel may be found in 1 Chronicles 12:23-40.

David was thirty years old when he began to reign. He reigned seven and one-half years at Hebron. He reigned 33 years at Jerusalem. In all the reign of David over Israel can be counted at forty years.

2.

Why was David anointed again? 2 Samuel 5:3

David's anointing at Hebron by the elders of Israel was the third time that he had been anointed. He was anointed secretly first, by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:1 ff.). He was anointed over the tribe of Judah only soon after the death of Saul (2 Samuel 2:4). The third anointing was performed by all the tribes and leaders of the people of Israel. A fuller account of David's becoming king over Israel may be found in 1 Chronicles 12:23-40.

3.

What was the length of David's reign? 2 Samuel 5:5

David was thirty years old when he began to reign. He reigned seven and one-half years at Hebron over Judah only. He reigned thirty-three years over all the tribes of Israel. In all his reign was forty and one-half years. Reference is generally made to its being forty years in length, without counting the half year in addition. This was a joyous occasion for the chosen people of God. They came before David with a perfect heart, indicating that there was none to oppose this move. The people brought bread on asses, camels, and mules, an indication of the festivities connected with the occasion. This was the beginning of a glorious period in Israel's history.