Then allIsraelgatheredto Davidat Hebronand said,"Behold,we are your boneand your flesh.
Labansaidto him, "Surelyyou are my boneand my flesh."And he stayedwith him a month.
But Absalomsentspiesthroughout allthe tribesof Israel,saying,"As soon as you hearthe soundof the trumpet,then you shall say,Absalomis kingin Hebron.'"
Then it cameabout afterwardsthat Davidinquiredof the LORD,saying,"Shall I goup to oneof the citiesof Judah?"And the LORDsaidto him, "Goup." So Davidsaid,"Whereshall I goup?" And He said,"To Hebron."
The daysthat DavidreignedoverIsrael[were] fortyyears:sevenyearshe reignedin Hebronand thirty-threeyearshe reignedin Jerusalem.
When they had goneup into the Negev,they cameto HebronwhereAhiman,Sheshaiand Talmai,the descendantsof Anakwere. (Now Hebronwas builtsevenyearsbeforeZoanin Egypt.)
becausewe are membersof His body.
you shall surelyseta kingoveryou whomthe LORDyour Godchooses,[one] from amongyour countrymenyou shall setas kingoveryourselves; you maynot puta foreigneroveryourselves whois not your countryman.
"Speak,now,in the hearingof allthe leadersof Shechem,'Whichis betterfor you, that seventymen,allthe sonsof Jerubbaal,ruleover you, orthat onemanruleover you?' Also, rememberthat I am your boneand your flesh."
