New Living Translation NLT
New International Version NIV
1 After this, David asked the LORD, “Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah?” “Yes,” the LORD replied. Then David asked, “Which town should I go to?” “To Hebron,” the LORD answered.
1
In the course of time, David inquired of the LORD. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The LORD said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the LORD answered.
2 David’s two wives were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. So David and his wives
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So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
3 and his men and their families all moved to Judah, and they settled in the villages near Hebron.
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David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns.
4 Then the men of Judah came to David and anointed him king over the people of Judah. When David heard that the men of Jabesh-gilead had buried Saul,
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Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah. When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul,
5 he sent them this message: “May the LORD bless you for being so loyal to your master Saul and giving him a decent burial.
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he sent messengers to them to say to them, “The LORD bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him.
6 May the LORD be loyal to you in return and reward you with his unfailing love! And I, too, will reward you for what you have done.
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May the LORD now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this.
7 Now that Saul is dead, I ask you to be my strong and loyal subjects like the people of Judah, who have anointed me as their new king.”
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Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them.”
8 But Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had already gone to Mahanaim with Saul’s son Ishbosheth.
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Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.
9 There he proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Israel.
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He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.
10 Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years. Meanwhile, the people of Judah remained loyal to David.
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Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David.
11 David made Hebron his capital, and he ruled as king of Judah for seven and a half years.
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The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months.
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