2 Samuel 5 1

2 Samuel 5:1 kjv

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

2 Samuel 5:1 nkjv

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

2 Samuel 5:1 niv

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "We are your own flesh and blood.

2 Samuel 5:1 esv

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

2 Samuel 5:1 nlt

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

2 Samuel 5 verses

2 Samuel 5 1 Meaning

2 Samuel 5:1 records the pivotal moment when all the previously fractured tribes of Israel approached David at Hebron. Their declaration, "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh," signifies their full recognition of David as their rightful kin and king. This verse marks the official unification of the entire nation of Israel under David's leadership, transitioning from a period of civil division to a centralized monarchy, aligning with God's prophetic purpose for David.

2 Samuel 5 1 Context

This verse occurs at a crucial juncture in Israelite history. Following the death of King Saul and the subsequent assassination of his son Ish-Bosheth (2 Sam 4), the legitimate lineage of Saul's house had ceased to exist as a unified entity capable of national leadership. David had already reigned over the tribe of Judah from Hebron for seven and a half years (2 Sam 2:11). With no clear rival for the throne from Saul's dynasty, all the other tribes of Israel, who had previously maintained loyalty to Saul's house, initiated the process of uniting under David. Their convergence at Hebron, David's existing seat of power, underscored the consensus and stability David already commanded, even before assuming leadership over the entire nation.

2 Samuel 5 1 Word analysis

• Then: This temporal marker signals a decisive turning point, indicating the immediate aftermath of Ish-Bosheth's death and the end of the civil war period, initiating the final steps in establishing a unified kingdom.
• all the tribes of Israel (כָּל־שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, kol-shavte Yisrael): This phrase emphasizes the complete and comprehensive unity. "Tribes" (shvatim) refers to the distinct, foundational family divisions of the nation descending from Jacob/Israel. Their collective arrival and unified declaration signify a national consensus, not just a factional agreement, indicating the strength and breadth of David's support. It represents a total societal shift in allegiance.
• came to David: This active movement underscores the voluntary nature of their submission. They sought David out, rather than being conquered by him, reflecting God's established plan for David's ascendancy.
• at Hebron (חֶבְרוֹנָה, Hevronah): This ancient city in the Judean hill country held deep historical and religious significance, being connected to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and previously David's capital for Judah. The choice of Hebron for this grand unification cemented David's pre-existing legitimacy and leveraged the city's symbolic importance for national identity and heritage.
• and said: This introduces their formal and deliberate statement, a public and solemn declaration of allegiance.
• Behold (הִנֵּה, hinneh): An interjection used to draw emphatic attention to a significant statement, highlighting the gravity and importance of their declaration to David.
• we are your bone and your flesh (עַצְמְךָ וּבְשָׂרְךָ אֲנָחְנוּ, atzmecha uv'sarecha anachnu): This potent idiomatic expression signifies close kinship, shared ancestry, and a profound communal bond. Used in passages like Gen 2:23 (Adam and Eve) and Gen 29:14 (Laban and Jacob), it conveys that they belong to the same family or people. In this context, it asserts David's inherent Israelite identity and underscores their shared national heritage, making him "one of their own" and a suitable, rightful king, implicitly contrasting him with any potential foreign ruler or a leader who lacks this deep-rooted connection to the nation. This was a statement of unity and common destiny.

2 Samuel 5 1 Bonus section

• This public recognition of David by "all the tribes" transforms his reign from a regional monarchy (over Judah) into a comprehensive national kingship. This transition, orchestrated by God, also secured tribal buy-in and unity, crucial for the long-term stability of the newly formed united kingdom.
• The phrase "bone and your flesh" can also be seen as an act of humility and a recognition of shared vulnerability and interdependence within the nation, signifying that they were all one body, of which David was now the head.
• The active initiative of the tribes to come to Hebron suggests that the leadership transition was not simply David's conquest but a genuine desire from the people for unity and stability under a divinely chosen and legitimate ruler.

2 Samuel 5 1 Commentary

2 Samuel 5:1 marks the decisive moment of national unity under David. After years of fragmented leadership and civil strife, "all the tribes of Israel" actively and voluntarily sought out David, acknowledging his rightful claim to the throne. Their powerful declaration, "we are your bone and your flesh," goes beyond political agreement; it signifies a deep familial and national identity with David, rooted in common ancestry and shared purpose. Meeting in Hebron, David's long-established capital for Judah, reinforced his legitimate rule and linked his kingship to the very origins of their patriarchal history. This verse is the official, unanimous ratification of David's divine appointment, consolidating his authority over the entire unified kingdom and setting the stage for Israel's Golden Age and the eventual Davidic Covenant.