The men of Israel replied to the men of Judah, &#8220;We have ten shares in the king, and we have a greater claim on David than you do! Why do you want<n id="1" /> to curse us? Weren&#8217;t we the first to suggest bringing back our king?&#8221; But the comments of the men of Judah were more severe than those of the men of Israel.p>

They lamented and wept and fasted until evening because Saul, his son Jonathan, the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s people, and the house of Israel had fallen by the sword.p>

Ish-bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he began to rule over Israel. He ruled two years. However, the people<n id="1" /> of Judah followed David.

<p class="bodytext">Then Abner sent messengers<n id="1" /> to David saying, &#8220;To whom does the land belong? Make an agreement<n id="2" /> with me, and I will do whatever I can<n id="3" /> to cause all Israel to turn to you.&#8221;

Act now! For the <sc>Lordsc> has said to David, &#8216;By the hand of my servant David I will save<n id="1" /> my people Israel from<n id="2" /> the Philistines and from all their enemies.&#8217;&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Then Abner spoke privately<n id="1" /> with the Benjaminites. Abner also went to Hebron to inform David privately<n id="2" /> of all that Israel and the entire house of Benjamin had agreed to.<n id="3" />

Abner said to David, &#8220;Let me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement<n id="1" /> with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire.&#8221; So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">When the Philistines heard that David had been designated<n id="1" /> king over Israel, they all<n id="2" /> went up to search for David. When David heard about it, he went down to the fortress.

He then handed out to each member of the entire assembly of Israel,<n id="1" /> both men and women, a portion of bread, a date cake,<n id="2" /> and a raisin cake. Then all the people went home.<n id="3" />

When David went home to pronounce a blessing on his own house,<n id="1" /> Michal, Saul&#8217;s daughter, came out to meet him.<n id="2" /> She said, &#8220;How the king of Israel has distinguished<n id="3" /> himself this day! He has exposed himself today before his servants&#8217; slave girls the way a vulgar fool<n id="4" /> might do!&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">David replied to Michal, &#8220;It was before the <sc>Lordsc>! I was celebrating before the <sc>Lord,sc> who chose me over your father and his entire family<n id="1" /> and appointed me as leader over the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s people Israel.

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;So now, say this to my servant David: &#8216;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> of hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd<n id="1" /> to make you leader of my people Israel.

and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. Instead, I will give you relief<n id="1" /> from all your enemies. The <sc>Lordsc> declares<n id="2" /> to you that he himself<n id="3" /> will build a dynastic house<n id="4" /> for you.

Who is like your people, Israel, a unique nation<n id="1" /> on the earth? Their God<n id="2" /> went<n id="3" /> to claim<n id="4" /> a nation for himself and to make a name for himself! You did great and awesome acts for your land,<n id="5" /> before your people whom you delivered for yourself from the Egyptian empire and its gods.<n id="6" />

for you, O <sc>Lordsc> of hosts, the God of Israel, have told<n id="1" /> your servant, &#8216;I will build you a dynastic house.&#8217;<n id="2" /> That is why your servant has had the courage<n id="3" /> to pray this prayer to you.

The Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 700 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers.<n id="1" /> He also struck down Shobach, the general in command of the army, who died there.

<t /><p class="bodytext">In the spring of the year, at the time when kings<n id="1" /> normally conduct wars,<n id="2" /> David sent out Joab with his officers<n id="3" /> and the entire Israelite army.<n id="4" /> They defeated the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem.<n id="5" />

I gave you your master&#8217;s house, and put your master&#8217;s wives into your arms.<n id="1" /> I also gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all that somehow seems insignificant, I would have given you so much more as well!

How could I ever be rid of my humiliation? And you would be considered one of the fools<n id="1" /> in Israel! Just<n id="2" /> speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.&#8221;

The king asked, &#8220;Where is your master&#8217;s grandson?&#8221;<n id="1" /> Ziba replied to the king, &#8220;He remains in Jerusalem,<n id="2" /> for he said, &#8216;Today the house of Israel will give back to me my grandfather&#8217;s<n id="3" /> kingdom.&#8217;&#8221;