2 Samuel 5:3

3 Also and the elder men of Israel came to the king, into Hebron; and king David smote with them (a) bond of peace in Hebron, before the Lord; and they anointed David into king upon Israel. (And the elders of Israel came to the king in Hebron; and King David struck a covenant with them in Hebron, before the Lord; and they anointed David king upon Israel.)

2 Samuel 5:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 5:3

So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron
Which either explains what is meant by the tribes coming to him, ( 2 Samuel 5:1 ) ; namely, coming by their elders as their representatives; or else the meaning is, that the messengers the tribes sent, when they returned and reported the favourable reception they had met with from David; the elders of the several tribes, the princes or principal men met, and came together to David in Hebron:

and King David made a league with them before the Lord;
the states of the nation; he entered into a covenant with them; he on his part promising to rule them in justice and judgment according to the laws, and they promising to yield a cheerful obedience to him in all things just and lawful: and this was done "before the Lord"; either before the ark of the Lord, as Abarbinel; but that was in Kirjathjearim, from whence it was after this brought by David to this city; rather, as Kimchi observes, wherever all Israel, or the greater part of them, were assembled, there the divine Shechinah or Majesty dwelt; so that what was done in a public assembly was reckoned as done before the Lord, and in his presence; or this covenant was made before the Lord, and each party appealed to him as witness of it, so that it was a very solemn one:

and they anointed David king over Israel;
that is, over all Israel, which was the third time of his being anointed; the first was by Samuel, pointing out the person the Lord chose and appointed king; the second was by the tribe of Judah, when they invested him with the office of a king over them; and now by all the tribes, when he was inaugurated into the whole kingdom of Israel; and not only the elders came at this time, but great numbers of the people from the several tribes, and continued with David some days, eating, drinking and rejoicing, see ( 1 Chronicles 12:1-40 ) .

2 Samuel 5:3 In-Context

1 And all the lineages of Israel came to David, in Hebron, and said, Lo! we be thy bone and thy flesh. (And all the tribes of Israel came to David, in Hebron, and said, Lo! we be thy flesh and blood.)

2 But also yesterday and the third day ago, when Saul was king upon us, thou leddest out, and leddest again Israel; forsooth the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be duke upon Israel. (And yesterday and the third day ago, when Saul was king upon us, thou leddest out the people Israel, and leddest them in again; and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be the leader of Israel.)

3 Also and the elder men of Israel came to the king, into Hebron; and king David smote with them (a) bond of peace in Hebron, before the Lord; and they anointed David into king upon Israel. (And the elders of Israel came to the king in Hebron; and King David struck a covenant with them in Hebron, before the Lord; and they anointed David king upon Israel.)

4 David was a son of thirty years, when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years(.)

5 in Hebron; he reigned upon Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years upon all Israel and Judah. (In Hebron, he reigned seven years and six months upon Judah; and in Jerusalem, he reigned thirty-three years upon all Israel and Judah.)