Commentary - 2 Samuel 2:1-7

Bird's-eye view

In this opening section of 2 Samuel, the long and painful interregnum is beginning to draw to a close. Saul, the Lord's rejected, is dead. David, the Lord's anointed, is now poised to take the throne that has been his by right for many years. But this transition is not a simple power grab; it is a display of godly patience, submission to divine timing, and shrewd covenantal leadership. David does not rush into the vacuum left by Saul's death. Instead, his first recorded action is to inquire of the Lord. This sets the pattern for his reign. He moves only at God's direction. Once established in Hebron and anointed by his own tribe of Judah, David's first diplomatic action is not to consolidate power or threaten rivals, but to commend and bless the men of Jabesh-gilead for their loyalty to the former king. This act reveals a man who understands covenantal faithfulness and who governs not by raw force, but by grace and truth. This chapter establishes the foundation of David's kingdom, a kingdom that will grow stronger and stronger because its king seeks the Lord's face and honors the Lord's ways.

The passage presents a stark contrast between two approaches to kingship. David waits on God, while in the subsequent verses, Abner will act out of human pragmatism and ambition. David's ascent begins in humility and dependence, foreshadowing the greater Son of David, who did not grasp at equality with God but humbled Himself. David's anointing in Hebron is a partial fulfillment of God's promise, a down payment on the full kingdom to come. His gracious words to the men of Jabesh-gilead are a masterstroke of godly wisdom, honoring the past while pointing to the future, and extending a hand of fellowship to those outside his immediate tribe. It is a lesson in how God's kingdom advances: not through frantic human effort, but through faithful obedience, one step at a time, under the clear direction of God Himself.

Outline

Context In 2 Samuel

Second Samuel opens immediately after the death of Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa, as recorded in 1 Samuel 31. The first chapter of 2 Samuel is dedicated to David's reception of this news and his profound, genuine lament over Saul and Jonathan. This is crucial context. David does not rejoice in the death of his enemy. He mourns the fall of the Lord's anointed and his covenant friend. This sets the stage for chapter 2, where David's actions are not those of a usurper seizing an opportunity, but of a righteous heir patiently waiting for God's timing. The events of this chapter mark the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise made when Samuel first anointed David back in 1 Samuel 16. However, the kingdom is not yet unified. David is acclaimed only by Judah, setting up the conflict with the house of Saul, represented by Ish-bosheth and his commander Abner, which will dominate the next several chapters. This initial anointing at Hebron is the first of three anointings for David: the first was private by Samuel, this second is public by Judah, and the third will be by all Israel in chapter 5. The narrative arc of these early chapters is the gradual, divinely-orchestrated consolidation of the kingdom under God's chosen man.

Key Issues

The Slow Work of God

We live in an age of impatience. We want instant results, overnight success, and immediate gratification. When God gives a promise, we want it fulfilled by lunchtime. But that is not how God ordinarily works, and the life of David is a master class in the slow, deliberate, and often painful providence of God. David was anointed as a teenager. He then spent somewhere around 15 years as a court musician, a military hero, and then a fugitive, hunted in the wilderness like a partridge. Now, the man who had been trying to kill him is dead. The throne is vacant. If there was ever a time for a man to say, "Finally! It's my turn," this was it.

But David's first instinct is not to seize, but to seek. "Shall I go up?" This question reveals a heart that has been disciplined by the long years of waiting. He has learned that God's promise and God's timing are two different things, and that the man who tries to rush God's timing will make a wreck of God's promise. Saul was the people's choice, a king they demanded in their impatience. David is God's choice, a king who has learned to wait. This patient dependence is the bedrock of his legitimacy. The kingdom God builds is not like the empires of men, built on raw ambition and force. It is a kingdom built on the slow, steady, and certain outworking of God's sovereign will, accomplished through servants who have learned to ask, "Where shall I go up?" and to wait for the answer.

Verse by Verse Commentary

1 Now it happened afterwards that David asked of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” And Yahweh said to him, “Go up.” So David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “To Hebron.”

The phrase "it happened afterwards" connects us back to David's lament for Saul and Jonathan. After the period of mourning, David turns to the practical matter of what to do next. But for him, the practical is theological. He does not consult his advisors or poll his men. He asks Yahweh. This is the fundamental difference between David and Saul. Saul, when in a tight spot, would act presumptuously. David, even when the way seems obvious, waits for a word from the Lord. His first question is general: "Shall I go up?" He is in Ziklag, in Philistine territory. "Going up" means returning to his homeland, to Judah. When God gives the green light, David's second question seeks specific direction: "Where?" God's answer is precise: "To Hebron." Hebron was a significant city, a city of priests, and the place where Abraham had dwelt. It was a strategic and symbolic place to begin his reign.

2-3 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they lived in the cities of Hebron.

Obedience immediately follows direction. David does not delay or second-guess. He goes up. And he does not go alone. He brings his entire company with him. This includes his immediate family, his two wives, and the loyal band of warriors who had been with him in the wilderness, along with their households. This was not just a military move; it was a resettlement. These men had been exiles with him, and now they were coming home. By bringing them and settling them in the surrounding towns, David was demonstrating his care for those who had been loyal to him during the hard years. A good king provides for his people. This action establishes a center of gravity for David's support, right in the heart of his own tribe.

4 Then the men of Judah came and there anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”

David's obedience is met with God's blessing. The men of his own tribe, Judah, recognize him as their rightful leader. This is his second anointing. The first, by Samuel, was a private, prophetic act. This one is a public, political act of investiture. He is now officially the king, though his authority is, for the moment, limited to "the house of Judah." At this moment of triumph, news is brought to him. It is not news of a rival faction or a military threat, but an account of loyalty. The men of Jabesh-gilead, a town across the Jordan, had shown extraordinary courage and kindness in rescuing and burying the bodies of Saul and his sons. This piece of information sets up David's first act as the newly anointed king.

5 And David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, “May you be blessed of Yahweh because you have shown this lovingkindness with your lord, with Saul, and have buried him.

A lesser man might have seen the men of Jabesh-gilead as Saul's loyalists, and therefore potential enemies. But David sees them through covenantal eyes. He understands that their loyalty to Saul, the Lord's anointed, was a righteous thing. He sends official messengers to them, and his first word is a blessing. He invokes the name of Yahweh upon them for the lovingkindness they have shown. The word is hesed, that great Old Testament word for covenant loyalty, steadfast love, and mercy. They had a debt of gratitude to Saul, who had saved their city years before (1 Samuel 11), and they paid it, at great risk to themselves. David does not condemn their loyalty to the old king; he commends it as a godly virtue.

6 So now, may Yahweh show lovingkindness and truth to you; and I also will show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing.

David prays that the Lord would repay their hesed with His own hesed and truth. God is the ultimate rewarder of faithfulness. But David does not leave it there. He adds his own promise: "I also will show this goodness to you." He puts himself in parallel with Yahweh. As God will show them kindness, so will the new king. This is a bold and shrewd statement. He is offering them a royal patronage, extending his favor and protection. He is demonstrating that his kingdom will be one that rewards loyalty, not one that purges old allegiances. He is turning potential adversaries into allies by the sheer force of grace.

7 So now, let your hands be strong and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

He concludes with an exhortation and an announcement. "Let your hands be strong and be valiant." This is language for preparing for conflict or for a difficult task. The nation is in a state of flux and weakness after the defeat at Gilboa. He is calling them to courage. Then he gives the reason. First, the old order is gone: "Saul your lord is dead." The object of their loyalty has passed from the scene. Second, a new order has begun: "the house of Judah has anointed me king over them." This is a gentle but clear invitation. Their loyalty to Saul was commendable. Now that Saul is dead, the only legitimate place for that loyalty to be directed is to the new king whom the Lord, through the tribe of Judah, has established. He is not demanding their allegiance with threats, but inviting it with blessings and a statement of fact. This is the politics of the gospel.

Application

There are at least two major streams of application for us in this passage. The first has to do with our own lives and our walk with God. David's example teaches us the indispensable virtue of waiting on the Lord. We all have promises from God in His word, promises concerning our sanctification, our families, and the triumph of His kingdom. The temptation is always to get out ahead of God, to try to bring about His promises through our own frantic efforts and clever schemes. David shows us a better way. The man who has God's promise can afford to wait for God's timing. Before we launch our new initiative, before we make that major life decision, before we act, the first question must always be, "Shall I go up?" We must learn to submit our plans, even the good and obvious ones, to the Lord for His approval and direction. True effectiveness in the Christian life is not a matter of our energy, but of God's anointing.

The second application concerns leadership, whether in the home, the church, or the community. David's first act as king was an act of grace. He did not begin by consolidating power, eliminating rivals, or making demands. He began by extending a blessing to those who had been loyal to his predecessor. This is a profound lesson. Godly authority is established not by throwing its weight around, but by recognizing and rewarding faithfulness, even faithfulness to a flawed and fallen leader like Saul. A gracious leader builds bridges. He honors the past. He speaks words of blessing before he makes requests. He invites allegiance rather than coercing it. David's kingdom was established on this foundation of grace, and it is a type of the kingdom of his great Son, Jesus Christ. Our King has secured His throne, and He calls us to be valiant, not because He threatens us, but because He has blessed us, and promised to show us goodness all our days.