2 Samuel 1-4 (ESV)
The Death of Saul and Jonathan
2 Samuel 1
After the death of Saul and Jonathan, David received the news of their passing from an Amalekite who had escaped from the battle. The Amalekite reported that he had seen Saul leaning on his spear, wounded, and had finished him off at his request. David and his men mourned and wept for Saul and Jonathan, and David composed a lament for them.
The Lament for Saul and Jonathan
The song of the bow. It is not to be transmitted. (2 Samuel 1:18)
David's lament praised Saul and Jonathan as mighty men of Israel, swift as eagles and strong as lions. He mourned the fact that they had fallen by the sword and were not able to be buried with honor. David also expressed his grief that the sons of Israel had failed to mourn the death of their king.
The Anointing of David as King
2 Samuel 2
After the death of Saul, David inquired of the Lord whether he should go up to one of the cities of Judah. The Lord told him to go, and David went to Hebron, where he was anointed king over the house of Judah. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for seven years and six months.
David's Oath to Abner
David sent messengers to the servants of Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, asking why they had taken the concubine of Saul, Rizpah the daughter of Aiah. Abner, the commander of Saul's army, had taken Rizpah, and David swore to Abner that if he brought all Israel to him, he would make a covenant with him to make him ruler over Israel.
The Murder of Abner
2 Samuel 3
Abner went to David at Hebron, and David made a feast for him and the twenty men who were with him. During the feast, David asked Joab, the commander of his army, to kill Abner, as Abner had killed Joab's brother Asahel. Joab struck Abner in the stomach, and he died.
David's Mourning for Abner
David mourned for Abner, and all Israel and Judah mourned with him. David ordered that Abner be buried in Hebron, and he gave a eulogy over his grave, saying that Abner was a great man and that his death was a great blow to Israel.
The Assassination of Ish-bosheth
2 Samuel 4
Two of the captains of bands, Baanah and Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, came to Ish-bosheth's house and struck him down while he was sleeping. They beheaded him and brought his head to David at Hebron, saying that they had avenged David's blood. However, David had them killed and hanged, saying that they had shed innocent blood.
The Kingdom of David Established
After the death of Ish-bosheth, all Israel came to David at Hebron, and he became king over all Israel. The Lord had given him the kingdom, and David reigned for forty years, thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
