The whole community of Israel came together to see David at Hebron. They said,“ We are your own flesh and blood.

以色列众人聚集到希伯仑见大卫，说：“我们原是你的骨肉。

以色列众人聚集到希伯仑见大卫，说：“看哪，我们是你的骨肉。

以色列众人聚集到希伯仑见大卫，说：“看哪，我们是你的骨肉。

以色列人都聚集到希伯仑来见大卫，对他说：“我们是你的骨肉同胞。

那时，以色列众人聚集到希伯仑去见大卫，说：“看哪，我们原是你的骨肉。

以色列眾人聚集到希伯崙見大衛，說：「我們原是你的骨肉。

以色列眾人聚集到希伯崙見大衛，說：「看哪，我們是你的骨肉。

以色列眾人聚集到希伯崙見大衛，說：「看哪，我們是你的骨肉。

以色列人都聚集到希伯崙來見大衛，對他說：「我們是你的骨肉同胞。

那時，以色列眾人聚集到希伯崙去見大衛，說：“看哪，我們原是你的骨肉。

以色列眾人集合到希伯崙來見大衛，說：『看哪，我們原是你的骨肉。

以色列眾集於希伯崙、見大衛曰、我為爾之骨肉、

以色列族眾、集於希伯崙、見大闢曰、我儕與爾誼屬同宗。

以色列眾集於希伯崙見大衛曰、我為爾之骨肉、

All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said,“ We are your own flesh and blood.

Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said,“ Behold, we are your bone and flesh.

Then all Israel gathered before David at Hebron and told him,“ We are your own flesh and blood.

All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said,“ Here we are, your own flesh and blood.

Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron and said,“ Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron, saying,“ Indeed we are your bone and your flesh.

Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said,“ Here we are, your own flesh and blood.

Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we[ are] thy bone and thy flesh.

All Israel joined David at Hebron and said,“ Look, we are your very flesh and blood!

Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron, saying,“ Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

After Saul and Jonathan died, David asked the Lord for advice.“ Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said,“ Go up.” David asked,“ Where should I go?”“ To Hebron,” the Lord answered.

We are parts of his body.

Large numbers of men came to David at Hebron. They were prepared for battle. They came to hand Saul’s kingdom over to him, just as the Lord had said. Here are the numbers of the men who came.The men from Judah carried shields and spears. They were prepared for battle. The total number of them was 6,800.The fighting men from Simeon were ready for battle. The total number of them was 7,100.The total number of men from Levi was 4,600.They included Jehoiada. He was the leader of the family of Aaron. He came with 3,700 men.The men from Levi also included Zadok. He was a brave young fighter. He came with 22 officers from his family.The men from Benjamin were from Saul’s tribe. Most of them had remained faithful to Saul’s family until that time. The total number of them was 3,000.The men from Ephraim were brave fighting men. They were famous in their own family groups. The total number of them was 20,800.The men from half of the tribe of Manasseh had been chosen by name to come and make David king. The total number of them was 18,000.The men from Issachar understood what was going on at that time. They knew what Israel should do. The total number of their chiefs was 200. They came with all their relatives who were under their command.The men from Zebulun knew how to fight well. That’s because they had done it many times before. They were prepared for battle. They had every kind of weapon. They came to help David with their whole heart. The total number of them was 50,000.The total number of officers from Naphtali was 1,000. They came with 37,000 men who carried shields and spears.The men from Dan were ready for battle. The total number of them was 28,600.The men from Asher knew how to fight well. That’s because they had done it many times before. They were prepared for battle. The total number of them was 40,000.The men from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh were armed with every kind of weapon. The men came from the east side of the Jordan River. The total number of them was 120,000.All these fighting men offered to serve in the army. Before they came to Hebron, they had agreed completely to make David king over all the Israelites. All the rest of the people also agreed to make David king.The men spent three days there with David. They ate and drank what their families had given them.Their neighbors also brought food. They brought it on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. They came from as far away as the territories of Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali. There was plenty of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, olive oil, cattle and sheep. The Israelites brought all these things because they were so happy.

Then Laban said to him,“ You are my own flesh and blood.” Jacob stayed with Laban for a whole month.

Then Absalom sent messengers secretly to all the tribes of Israel. They said,“ Listen for the sound of trumpets. As soon as you hear them, say,‘ Absalom has become king in Hebron.’ ”

They went up through the Negev Desert and came to Hebron. That’s where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai lived. They belonged to the family line of Anak. Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan. Zoan was a city in Egypt.

When that happens, make sure you appoint over yourselves a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your own people. Don’t appoint over yourselves someone from another country. Don’t choose anyone who isn’t from one of the tribes of Israel.

You are my relatives. You are my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring me back?’Say to Amasa,‘ Aren’t you my own flesh and blood? You will be the commander of my army for life in place of Joab. If that isn’t true, may God punish me greatly.’ ”

He had ruled over Israel for 40 years. He ruled for seven years in Hebron. Then he ruled for 33 years in Jerusalem.

All the tribes of Israel came to see David at Hebron. They said,“ We are your own flesh and blood.In the past, Saul was our king. But you led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you,‘ You will be the shepherd over my people Israel. You will become their ruler.’ ”All the elders of Israel came to see King David at Hebron. There the king made a covenant with them in front of the Lord. They anointed David as king over Israel.David was 30 years old when he became king. He ruled for 40 years.In Hebron he ruled over Judah for seven and a half years. In Jerusalem he ruled over all of Israel and Judah for 33 years.The king and his men marched to Jerusalem. They went to attack the Jebusites who lived there. The Jebusites said to David,“ You won’t get in here. Even people who can’t see or walk can keep you from coming in.” The Jebusites thought,“ David can’t get in here.”But David captured the fort of Zion. It became known as the City of David.On that day David had said,“ Someone might win the battle over the Jebusites. But they will have to crawl through the water tunnel to get into the city. That’s the only way they can reach those enemies of mine that you say can’t see or walk.” That’s why people say,“ Those who‘ can’t see or walk’ won’t enter David’s palace.”David moved into the fort. He called it the City of David. He built up the area around the fort. He filled in the low places. He started at the bottom and worked his way up.David became more and more powerful. That’s because the Lord God who rules over all was with him.Hiram was king of Tyre. He sent messengers to David. He sent cedar logs along with them. He also sent skilled workers. They worked with wood and stone. They built a palace for David.Then David knew that the Lord had made his position as king secure. He knew that he had made him king over the whole nation of Israel. He knew that the Lord had greatly honored his kingdom. The Lord had done it because the Israelites were his people.After David left Hebron, he got more concubines and wives in Jerusalem. More sons and daughters were born to him there.Here is a list of the children who were born to him in Jerusalem. Their names were Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

“ Speak to all the citizens of Shechem. Tell them,‘ You can have all 70 of Jerub- Baal’s sons rule over you. Or you can have just one man rule over you. Which would you rather have?’ Remember, I’m your own flesh and blood.”