2Sa 5:1-3 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Sam 5:1-25: 5:1-25 After the murder of Abner and Ishbosheth, the elders of the northern tribes accepted David as their king. David thus obtained an extended empire (5:1-5 ), a new capital city (5:6-10 ), a new palace (5:11 ), a new family (5:13-16 ), and renewed confidence (5:17-25 ). 5:1 your own flesh and blood: Years of civil war had set brother against brother, resulting in much bloodshed (see 3:1 ).

Summary for 2Sam 5:1-25: 5:1-25 ^a After the murder of Abner and Ishbosheth, the elders of the northern tribes accepted David as their king. David thus obtained an extended empire (5:1-5 ^b), a new capital city (5:6-10 ^c), a new palace (5:11 ^d), a new family (5:13-16 ^e), and renewed confidence (5:17-25 ^f). 5:1 ^g your own flesh and blood: Years of civil war had set brother against brother, resulting in much bloodshed (see 3:1 ^h).
5:2 ⁱ you were the one: In the ancient world, a covenant relationship (a suzerain-vassal treaty) was sometimes formed between subjects (the vassals) and a ruler (the suzerain) because of past aid, often rescue from enemies (see Judg 8:22 ^j, Gideon; Judg 11:8-11 ^k, Jephthah; 1 Sam 11:1-15 ^l, Saul). This type of relationship is the background for the covenant concept in Scripture: God was Israel’s covenant Lord because he had freed them from Egypt (cp. Exod 19:4 ^m; 20:1-2 ⁿ).

• the Lord told you: Israel was already aware of God’s selection of David (cp. 2 Sam 3:9 ^o).

• shepherd of my people Israel: This phrase is quoted in Matt 2:6 ^p when King Herod asks the leading priests about the prophecies concerning the Messiah.
5:3 ^q King David made a covenant that demanded the people’s loyalty, yet allowed them to maintain a sense of tribal privilege and individual dignity. It served as a constitution, containing stipulations obligating both the king and the people.

• they anointed him king: While David had already been anointed by Samuel (1 Sam 16:13 ^r), this public ceremony demonstrated the people’s acceptance of David as king.