2 Samuel 5:1
New International Version
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood.

New Living Translation
Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood.

English Standard Version
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh.

Berean Standard Bible
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.

King James Bible
Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

New King James Version
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh.

New American Standard Bible
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

NASB 1995
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

NASB 1977
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

Amplified Bible
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

Christian Standard Bible
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.

American Standard Version
Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And all the tribes of the house of Israel came to David at Khebron and they said to him: “Behold, we are your flesh and your bone!

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And all the tribes of Israel come to David to Chebron, and they said to him, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

Contemporary English Version
Israel's leaders met with David at Hebron and said, "We are your relatives.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron, saying: Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh.

English Revised Version
Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. "We are your own flesh and blood," they said.

Good News Translation
Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and said to him, "We are your own flesh and blood.

International Standard Version
After this, all of the tribes of Israel assembled with David at Hebron and declared, "Look, we're your own flesh and blood!

JPS Tanakh 1917
Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spoke, saying: 'Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

Literal Standard Version
And all the tribes of Israel come to David, to Hebron, and speak, saying, “Behold, we [are] your bone and your flesh;

Majority Standard Bible
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.

New American Bible
All the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron, and they said: “Look! We are your bone and your flesh.

NET Bible
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron saying, "Look, we are your very flesh and blood!

New Revised Standard Version
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, “Look, we are your bone and flesh.

New Heart English Bible
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, saying, "Look, we are your bone and your flesh.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then came all the tribes of Israel to David to Hebron, and spoke, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

World English Bible
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

Young's Literal Translation
And all the tribes of Israel come unto David, to Hebron, and speak, saying, 'Lo, we are thy bone and thy flesh;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Anointed King over Israel
1Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. 2Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’ ”…

Cross References
Genesis 29:14
Then Laban declared, "You are indeed my own flesh and blood." After Jacob had stayed with him a month,

Joshua 10:36
Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron and fought against it.

2 Samuel 19:12
You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to restore the king?'

2 Samuel 19:13
And say to Amasa, 'Aren't you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from this time you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!'"

2 Samuel 19:43
"We have ten shares in the king," answered the men of Israel, "so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?" But the men of Judah pressed even harder than the men of Israel.

1 Chronicles 11:1
Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, "Here we are, your own flesh and blood.

1 Chronicles 12:38
All these men of war, arrayed for battle, came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. And all the rest of the Israelites were of one mind to make David king.


Treasury of Scripture

Then came all the tribes of Israel to David to Hebron, and spoke, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

came

1 Chronicles 11:1-3
Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh…

1 Chronicles 12:23-40
And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD…

we

2 Samuel 19:13
And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.

Genesis 29:14
And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

Deuteronomy 17:15
Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.

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2 Samuel 5
1. The tribes come to Hebron and anoint David over Israel,
4. David's age
6. Taking Zion from the Jebusites, he dwells in it
11. Hiram sends to David,
13. Eleven sons are born to him in Jerusalem
17. David, directed by God, smites the Philistines at Baal-perazim
22. And again at the mulberry trees














(1) All the tribes.--Not only as represented by their elders (2Samuel 5:3), but by the large bodies of their warriors enumerated in 1Chronicles 12:23-40. It is to be noticed, then, that the "children of Judah" (1Chronicles 12:24), over whom David was already king, joined in the assembly, and that there were 4,600 Levites with Jehoiada as the leader of the priestly family of Aaron, while Zadok appears only as a conspicuous member of that family (1Chronicles 12:27-28).

Thy bone and thy flesh.--The Israelites, oppressed by the Philistines and their other enemies, and having seen the utter failure of the house of Saul and the death of their head, Abner, felt the necessity of union under a competent leader, and it is probable that this gathering to David, already prepared for by the negotiations of Abner, took place immediately after the death of Ish-bosheth. They assign three reasons for their action: (1) that they were of the same flesh and bone with David (comp. Genesis 29:14; Judges 9:2; 2Samuel 19:12)--i.e., were of such common descent that it was unfitting for them to constitute separate nations; (2) that David, even in Saul's reign, had been their military leader, and hence they knew him and had confidence in his prowess and sagacity; (3) that the Lord had chosen him for their king. The exact language of the Divine promise quoted is not found in the record, but is either (as in the case of Abner's words, 2Samuel 3:18) a summary of the communications made to David, or else some unrecorded language of one of the prophets. . . .

Verse 1. - Then came all the tribes of Israel. As Ishbosheth reigned only two years, and David's reign at Hebron lasted for seven years and a half, there is an interval of more than five years to be accounted for; and we have given reason for believing (see note on 2 Samuel 2:10) that it must be placed after the death of Ishbosheth. The treacherous murder of Abner, and the tragic fate of Ishbosheth following upon it so rapidly, must have filled all Israel with horror, and made them look upon David as "a bloody man" (2 Samuel 16:8). But gradually his innocence became clear to all except inveterate partisans, and as the prejudice against him passed away, the evident advantage of union under so able a ruler would force itself upon their attention, and their decision would be hastened by the advantage which the Philistines would be sure to take of their anarchy. How much they had profited by it we gather from the haste with which they endeavoured to crush David's kingdom. The enormous gathering at Hebron to anoint David king proves not merely the unanimity of the tribes, but that his election was the result of long preparation and arrangement. We have fuller details of it in 1 Chronicles 12:23-40, where we learn that the people assembled in large numbers, the total being computed in the 'Speaker's Commentary' at 348,222; and it is remarkable that of this vast array only sixteen thousand nine hundred came from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, which were situated in the neighbourhood of Hebron. On the other hand, the two and a half trans-Jordanic tribes sent no less than a hundred and twenty thousand men, and the three unimportant tribes of Zebulun, Asher, and Naphtali mustered a hundred and eighteen thousand; while Issachar was content to send only two hundred, who were all, however, "men that had understanding... and their brethren were at their commandment." These words suggest the probable explanation of the disparity in the numbers, which to many seems so strange that they think they must be corrupt. Each tribe settled for itself in what way it would be represented, and the more distant sent a large proportion of their men of military age on what would be an enjoyable holiday. As they spent three days at Hebron, the expedition would occupy, even for those most remote, little more than a week; and it was well worth the while of the tribes thus to come together. It made them feel the value of unity, and gave them a knowledge of their strength. Their tribal independence during the time of the judges had made them too weak even to maintain their liberty; but now, welded by the kingly power into a nation, they soon, not only won freedom for themselves, but placed their yoke upon the shoulders of their neighbours. As for the difficulty of supplying them with food, all would bring victuals from home; and the neighbouring tribes showed great hospitality. Especially we read that those who were nigh unto Hebron, "even as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, victual of meal, cakes of figs, and clusters of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep in abundance: for there was joy in Israel" (1 Chronicles 12:40). It was a grand national festival, joyously kept because the people saw in the election of David an end to all their troubles; and so vast a gathering overbore all opposition, and gave both to them and their king the consciousness of their might. But while we find in the Book of Chronicles the account of this mighty multitude, it is here (ver. 3) expressly said that it was the elders who made a league with David, and anointed him king. The people by their presence testified their joyful assent to what was done; but David's election was made legitimate by the decision of the constituted authorities in each tribe. It would be most interesting to know the various steps taken, and how the agitation grew and spread from tribe to tribe, until all hesitation and resistance were overcome. But the object of this book is to show us the great qualities, the sin, the repentance, and the punishment of the man who added to the old routine of sacrifice bright services of song, and who was the author of that book of devotion which to this day best expresses the feelings of the heart, as well in the joys as in the sorrows of life. The manner of his election throws no light upon his character, and is passed over. Enough to know that in those five years after Ishbosheth's murder David won the approval of all Israel, and that his appointment to the kingdom was by the free choice of the tribes, acting in a legitimate manner, and sending each their elders to Hebron to notify to David their consent; and that their decision was ratified by this joyful gathering of a mighty multitude from all parts of the land. Three reasons are given by the elders for David's election, and we may be sure that they represent the arguments used in their popular assemblies. The first, that they were David's bone and flesh. In other words, the tribes were all of one race, and united by the closest ties of relationship. For the descendants of a common ancestor to be at war with one another was both morally and politically wrong. The second, that David had been their actual leader in war even in Saul's time. His personal qualities, therefore, justified their choice of him to be their deliverer from the evils which had overwhelmed the land after the disastrous defeat at Gilboa, when Saul had no longer the aid of David's presence. The third, that Jehovah had by the mouth of his prophet given the throne to David. It is remarkable that the elders place this last. Their view probably was that the Divine command must be proved by outward circumstances, that so reason might confirm faith. So Saul's public appointment by Samuel was ratified by the people only after he had shown himself worthy to be a king by the defeat of the Ammonites.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the tribes
שִׁבְטֵ֧י (šiḇ·ṭê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7626: Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

came
וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ (way·yā·ḇō·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

David
דָּוִ֖ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

at Hebron
חֶבְר֑וֹנָה (ḥeḇ·rō·w·nāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 2275: Hebron -- 'association, league', a city in southern Judah

and said,
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Here
הִנְנ֛וּ (hin·nū)
Interjection | first person common plural
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

we [are],
אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃ (’ă·nā·ḥə·nū)
Pronoun - first person common plural
Strong's 587: We

your own flesh
וּֽבְשָׂרְךָ֖ (ū·ḇə·śā·rə·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

and blood.
עַצְמְךָ֥ (‘aṣ·mə·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6106: A bone, the body, the substance, selfsame


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OT History: 2 Samuel 5:1 Then came all the tribes of Israel (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 4:12
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