_all Israel_] Chronicles has nothing here corresponding to 2 Samuel i.‒iv., chapters which cover a period of seven years (2 Samuel v. 5). David’s earlier coronation by the men of Judah (2 Samuel ii. 4), the reign of Ish-bosheth over Northern and Eastern Israel (2 Samuel ii. 8 ff.), and the “long war” (2 Samuel iii. 1) with the house of Saul are omitted not of course because the Chronicler was ignorant of these events (for see the references in verses 15, 17; xii. 1, 23, 29, etc.), but for the reason set forth above in the head-note to chapters x.‒xxix. The Chronicler’s account is perhaps deliberately adapted to convey an impression of the ease with which the ideal David ascends the throne of a united Israel; and, if we had not the narrative in Samuel to help us, we should be left with a conception of the period very different from the actual course of events. How strange, too, would be the sudden transition from the picture of defeat and flight of Israel in chapter x. to the calm assemblage of all Israel in chapter xi., and how obscure the various references to David’s earlier life in xi. 15 ff.! _we are thy bone and thy flesh_] The phrase is not to be taken strictly as implying kinship, for only the tribe of Judah could say “The king is near of kin to us” (2 Samuel xix. 42). The other tribes mean that they will obey David as though he were their own kin. ²In times past, even when Saul was king, it was thou that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince¹ over my people Israel. ¹ Or, _leader_. =2.= _the LORD thy God said_] Compare verses 3, 10; 1 Samuel xvi. 1‒13. _prince_] compare v. 2, note. ³So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Samuel. =3.= _made a covenant_] i.e. gave them a charter in which he promised to respect existing rights; compare 1 Samuel x. 25 (Samuel writes the “manner” of the kingdom). _before the LORD_] One method of entering into a covenant “before the LORD” was to pass between the parts of a sacrificed animal; compare Jeremiah xxxiv. 18, 19. Chronicles has nothing here corresponding with 2 Samuel v. 4, 5; but compare xxix. 27. _according ... Samuel_] Compare 1 Samuel xv. 28, xvi. 1, 3. =4‒9= (= 2 Samuel v. 6‒10). THE “CITY OF DAVID” CAPTURED AND MADE A ROYAL RESIDENCE. ⁴And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (the same is Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. =4.= _David and all Israel_] In Samuel (more accurately) “The king and _his men_,” i.e. his household and body-guard; compare x. 6, note. The exploit recorded in Samuel is invested by the Chronicler with the grandeur of a state campaign.