2 Samuel 2:4 - Plain English Version

⁴ Then the Judah tribe came together at Hebron to make David their boss. They poured olive oil on his head. That was their way of showing everybody that he was their boss. (We have not yet translated 2:5-7.)

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

⁴ And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

⁴ And the men of Judah came and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, The men of Jabesh-gilead buried Saul. [I Sam. 31:11-13.]

American Standard Version (1901)

⁴ And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, The men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.

Common English Bible

⁴ Then the people of Judah came to Hebron and anointed David king over the house of Judah. When David was informed that it was the people of Jabesh-gilead who had buried Saul,

Catholic Public Domain Version

⁴ And the men of Judah went and anointed David there, so that he would reign over the house of Judah. And it was reported to David that the men of Jabesh Gilead had buried Saul.

2 Samuel 2:4 Cross References

2 Samuel 2:11

David was boss for 7 years and 6 months in Hebron town. (We have not yet translated 2:12-32. It is about a fight between David’s mob and the mob that wanted Saul’s son to be their boss.)

2 Samuel 5:3

So the elders told that story to David in Hebron. Then he said, “Yes, I agree to be the big boss of everybody. I say that while God is listening.” Then the elders poured olive oil on his head to show that he was the big boss for all the Israel mob.

2 Samuel 5:5

You see, David was boss for the Judah tribe first. That was for 7½ years, and he lived at that place called Hebron. After that, he became the big boss for the other Israel tribes too, and he lived in the city called Jerusalem. (We have not yet translated 5:6—6:23.)

1 Samuel 16:13

So Samuel got the bottle of olive oil, and he poured oil on David’s head, while his older brothers were watching. God’s spirit went into David in a powerful way and stayed in him from that day on. Then Samuel went back to his place at Ramah.