2 Samuel 2:4

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, [That] the men of Jabeshgilead [were they] that buried Saul.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then the men of Y'hudah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Y'hudah. They informed David that the men of Yavesh-Gil'ad were the ones who had buried Sha'ul.

Berean Standard Bible:

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

American Standard Version:

And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, The men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the men^{H582} of Judah^{H3063} came^{H935}, and there they anointed^{H4886} David^{H1732} king^{H4428} over the house^{H1004} of Judah^{H3063}. And they told^{H5046} David^{H1732}, saying^{H559}, That the men^{H582} of Jabeshgilead^{{H3003}{H1568}} were they that buried^{H6912} Saul^{H7586}.

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Commentary for 2 Samuel 2:4

2 Samuel 2:4 marks a pivotal moment in the transition of power between the first two kings of Israel. The verse is set in the historical context following the death of King Saul, who died in battle against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa, as recounted in 1 Samuel 31. With Saul's death, the nation of Israel faced a leadership vacuum, and the tribe of Judah, recognizing David's prior anointing by the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 16:1-13), took the initiative to anoint him king over Judah.

The act of anointing David as king over Judah, specifically in Hebron, signifies the beginning of his ascent to the throne and the recognition of his legitimacy by at least one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This event contrasts with the broader political and military chaos that ensued after Saul's death, as the rest of Israel had not yet acknowledged David as their king. The men of Judah's decision to anoint David reflects their acceptance of God's earlier choice of David as Saul's successor, as well as their loyalty to their own tribe's most prominent member.

Additionally, the verse references the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had shown great loyalty to Saul by recovering and burying his body, along with those of his sons, after they were desecrated by the Philistines. This act of respect and honor for the fallen king, despite his defeat, is noted with appreciation, and it sets the stage for David's later interaction with these men, where he commends their loyalty and kindness to Saul (2 Samuel 2:5-7).

In summary, 2 Samuel 2:4 captures the early stages of David's reign, highlighting the themes of leadership transition, tribal loyalty, and the fulfillment of divine promises. It reflects the complex dynamics of power and allegiance in the early days of Israel's monarchy and sets the scene for the eventual unification of all Israel under David's rule.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H582
   There are 648 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱנוֹשׁ
   Transliteration: ʼĕnôwsh
   Pronunciation: en-oshe'
   Description: from אָנַשׁ; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified אָדָם); hence,; a man in general (singly or collectively); another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare אִישׁ.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3063
   There are 754 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהוּדָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhûwdâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-hoo-daw'
   Description: from יָדָה; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory; Judah.
   
3. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4886
   There are 66 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָשַׁח
   Transliteration: mâshach
   Pronunciation: maw-shakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to rub with oil, i.e. to anoint; by implication, to consecrate; also to paint; anoint, paint.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1732
   There are 911 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּוִד
   Transliteration: Dâvid
   Pronunciation: daw-veed'
   Description: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as דּוֹד; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse; David.
   
6. Strong's Number: H4428
   There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: melek
   Pronunciation: meh'-lek
   Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
   
7. Strong's Number: H1004
   There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בַּיִת
   Transliteration: bayith
   Pronunciation: bah'-yith
   Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out).
   
8. Strong's Number: H5046
   There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָגַד
   Transliteration: nâgad
   Pronunciation: naw-gad'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise; bewray, [idiom] certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, [idiom] fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, [idiom] surely, tell, utter.
   
9. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3003
    There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָבֵשׁ
    Transliteration: Yâbêsh
    Pronunciation: yaw-bashe'
    Description: the same as יָבֵשׁ (also יָבֵישׁ; often with the addition of גִּלְעָד, i.e. Jabesh of Gilad); Jobesh, the name of an Israelite and of a place in Palestine; Jobesh (-Gilead).
    
11. Strong's Number: H1568
    There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גִּלְעָד
    Transliteration: Gilʻâd
    Pronunciation: ghil-awd'
    Description: probably from גַּלְעֵד; Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites; Gilead, Gileadite.
    
12. Strong's Number: H6912
    There are 122 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קָבַר
    Transliteration: qâbar
    Pronunciation: kaw-bar'
    Description: a primitive root; to inter; [idiom] in any wise, bury(-ier).
    
13. Strong's Number: H7586
    There are 335 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁאוּל
    Transliteration: Shâʼûwl
    Pronunciation: shaw-ool'
    Description: passive participle of שָׁאַל; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites; Saul, Shaul.