So allוַ כָּלthe eldersזִקְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלcameיָּבֹאוּtoאֶלthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְat Hebron,חֶבְרוֹנָהand Kingוַ הַמֶּלֶךְDavidדָּוִדmadeיִּכְרֹתa covenantבְּרִיתwith themלָהֶםat HebronבְּחֶבְרוֹןbeforeלִפְנֵיYHWH;יְהוָהand they anointedוַיִּמְשְׁחוּDavidדָּוִדas kingלְמֶלֶךְoverעַלIsrael.יִשְׂרָאֵל
2 Samuel 5:3
Study it in the app“So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before YHWH; and they anointed David as king over Israel.”
With the Hebrew beneath
2 Samuel 5:3, word by word
- the eldersזִקְנֵיzikne
elder
The senior men who led a city or the people.
Where else “zikne” appears- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael
Israel
Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.
Where else “yisrael” appears- cameיָּבֹאוּyavou
come
To come, arrive: "days are coming".
Where else “yavou” appears- the kingמֶּלֶךְmelech
king
A king who rules a people.
Where else “melech” appears- at Hebronחֶבְרוֹנָchevrona
Hebron
See it on the mapWhere else “chevrona” appears- Davidדָּוִדdavid
David
David, youngest son of Jesse, of Bethlehem; the second king of Israel. The name means "beloved."
Where else “david” appears- madeיִּכְרֹתyichrot
make a covenant
Literally "cut": to seal a solemn agreement, splitting animals.
Where else “yichrot” appears- a covenantבְּרִיתberit
covenant
The commitment God makes with his people, with promises and commands.
Where else “berit” appears- beforeפְנֵיfene
before
Literally "to the face of": in sight of someone, or on account of something.
Where else “fene” appears- YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- and they anointedיִּמְשְׁחוּyimshchu
anoint
To pour oil on someone to set them apart for God.
Where else “yimshchu” appears
Parallel passages
Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.
David king over all Israel
See them side by side
2 Samuel 5:1-5
1All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Look at us: we are your bone and your flesh. 2For some time now, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and YHWH said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be leader over Israel.’” 3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before YHWH; and they anointed David as king over Israel. 4David was thirty years old when he began to reign; forty years he reigned. 5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.
1Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron, saying, “Look, we are your bone and your flesh. 2For some time now, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and YHWH your Elohim said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people, Israel, and you will be leader over my people Israel.’” 3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before YHWH; and they anointed David as king over Israel, according to the word of YHWH by the hand of Samuel.
Places in this verse
Hebron
Today: Hebron (Al-Khalil), West Bank
A city in the hills of Judea, about 19 miles (30 km) south of Jerusalem.
Abraham lived nearby and bought the cave there where he buried Sarah (Gen 23:2). David was anointed king of Judah at Hebron (2 Sam 2:1-4).
The context
2For some time now, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and YHWH said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be leader over Israel.’”
3 · This verse (above)
4David was thirty years old when he began to reign; forty years he reigned.