2Sa 2:1-4 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Sam 2:1-32: 2:1-32 After Saul died, those loyal to David (the tribe of Judah) clashed with those loyal to Saul’s son Ishbosheth (the remaining tribes of Israel). The Philistines, who at this time were essentially overlords of all Palestine west of the Jordan River, likely favored and encouraged this division because it made it easier for them to divide and conquer. 2:1 David asked the Lord (cp. 5:23-24 ; Judg 1:1-2 ; 20:18 ; 1 Sam 10:22 ) by consulting the Urim and Thummim (see Exod 28:30 ; Lev 8:8 ; Deut 33:8 ; 1 Sam 14:41 ) administered by Abiathar, David’s priest (1 Sam 23:1-12 ; 30:7-8 ). David acted when God directed, not before. • Hebron was nineteen miles southwest of Jerusalem. Abraham had lived in this area for a time and eventually purchased a nearby cave for a family burial plot (Gen 23 ). The people of the area were sympathetic toward David (see 1 Sam 30:26-31 ).

Summary for 2Sam 2:1-32: 2:1-32 ^a After Saul died, those loyal to David (the tribe of Judah) clashed with those loyal to Saul’s son Ishbosheth (the remaining tribes of Israel). The Philistines, who at this time were essentially overlords of all Palestine west of the Jordan River, likely favored and encouraged this division because it made it easier for them to divide and conquer. 2:1 ^b David asked the Lord (cp. 5:23-24 ^c; Judg 1:1-2 ^d; 20:18 ^e; 1 Sam 10:22 ^f) by consulting the Urim and Thummim (see Exod 28:30 ^g; Lev 8:8 ^h; Deut 33:8 ⁱ; 1 Sam 14:41 ^j) administered by Abiathar, David’s priest (1 Sam 23:1-12 ^k; 30:7-8 ^l). David acted when God directed, not before.

• Hebron was nineteen miles southwest of Jerusalem. Abraham had lived in this area for a time and eventually purchased a nearby cave for a family burial plot (Gen 23 ^m). The people of the area were sympathetic toward David (see 1 Sam 30:26-31 ⁿ).
2:2 ^o Ahinoam: See study note on 1 Sam 25:43. David’s other wife, Saul’s daughter Michal, had been given to another man after David fled from Saul (1 Sam 25:44 ^p).

• Abigail: See 1 Sam 25 ^q.
Summary for 2Sam 2:4-7: 2:4b-7 ^r Once established in Hebron, David made good faith gestures to those still loyal to Saul, such as the men of Jabesh-gilead. However, because they were loyal to ... Saul and his dynasty, they rejected David as king (2:8-11 ^s). David was also in league with Nahash, king of the Ammonites (see 10:2 ^t; 17:27-29 ^u), who had caused havoc in Jabesh-gilead (1 Sam 11:1-15 ^v).