“Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron…And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.” (v.3)
David had been anointed king on three different occasions. The first time as a young boy, by Samuel the prophet, at God’s direction (for a future time), in front of the sons of Jesse in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:1,13). The second time was when the "men of Judah" anointed him king over "the house of Judah”, where he ruled for 7 years and 6 months (2 Samuel 2:4). This third time mentioned here in our text, David was anointed king over a united people, including "all the elders of Israel." His long awaited time had now come.
The last part of the sentence in our text is important not to skip over though. For this all happened, “according to the Word of the Lord” by the prophet Samuel. This sentence marks the complete fulfilment of what had been foreshadowed in 1 Samuel 16:12-13. What may be seen as a reflection on the part of the writer based upon the facts of scripture, nonetheless speaks to the forknowledge and council of God and that His Word can not be altered. So it was written, and so it was accomplished.
The remainder of the chapter explains how David took control of Jerusalem, making it his capital city (vv.4-9) and his selection of his mighty men along with some of their exploits (vv.10-25). These remarkable men were the foundation of the greatness of David’s reign. They did not come to David as great men. But God used David’s leadership to transform them from the men who met David back at Adullam Cave; men who were in distress, in debt and discontented (1 Samuel 22:1-2), to the men they became.
The Truth
“My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: His seed shall endure forever, And his throne as the sun before Me; It shall be established forever like the moon, Even like the faithful witness in the sky.” (Psalm 89:34-37)
