2 Samuel 2:4

4 Und die Männer von Juda kamen und salbten daselbst David zum König über das Haus Juda. Und man berichtete David und sprach: Die Männer von Jabes-Gilead sind es, die Saul begraben haben.

2 Samuel 2:4 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 2:4

And the men of Judah came
The inhabitants of the tribe of Judah came from the several parts of it to Hebron, that is, the principal of them, the elders of each city:

and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah;
they did not take upon them to make him king over all Israel, but left the rest of the tribes to act for themselves; and no doubt in this they had the mind of David, who was not willing to force himself upon the people at once, but by degrees get the whole government into his hands, as Providence should make his way; these men knew the kingdom was promised to their tribe, from ( Genesis 49:10 ) ; and were quite clear in what they did, and, without question, knew that David had been anointed by Samuel: but as that anointing was only a declaration of the Lord's choice of him, and of his will that he should be king after Saul's death, he is again anointed by the people, as an inauguration into his office:

and they told David, saying, [that] the men of Jabeshgilead [were they]
that buried Saul.
It is highly probable, that as soon as David was anointed king, the first thing he thought of was to inquire after the body of the late king, and give it an honourable interment, and upon inquiry was told that the men of Jabeshgilead had buried him already. See ( 1 Samuel 31:11-13 ) .

2 Samuel 2:4 In-Context

2 Und David zog dort hinauf, und auch seine zwei Weiber, Achinoam, die Jisreelitin, und Abigail, das Weib Nabals, des Karmeliters.
3 Auch seine Männer, die bei ihm waren, ließ David hinaufziehen, einen jeden mit seinem Hause; und sie wohnten in den Städten Hebrons.
4 Und die Männer von Juda kamen und salbten daselbst David zum König über das Haus Juda. Und man berichtete David und sprach: Die Männer von Jabes-Gilead sind es, die Saul begraben haben.
5 Da sandte David Boten zu den Männern von Jabes-Gilead und ließ ihnen sagen: Gesegnet seiet ihr von Jehova, daß ihr diese Güte an eurem Herrn, an Saul, erwiesen und ihn begraben habt!
6 Und so erweise nun Jehova Güte und Treue an euch; und auch ich will euch dieses Gute vergelten, weil ihr diese Sache getan habt.
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