2 Samuel 2:3
ESV
And David brought up his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron.
NIV
David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns.
NASB
And David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they settled in the cities of Hebron.
CSB
In addition, David brought the men who were with him, each one with his family, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.
NLT
and his men and their families all moved to Judah, and they settled in the villages near Hebron.
KJV
And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
NKJV
And David brought up the men who were with him, every man with his household. So they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
What does 2 Samuel 2:3 mean?
With the Lord's direction and blessing, David moves his wives and his men from the Philistine city of Ziklag to the city of Hebron in Judah. Saul's crusade to kill David came to an end when he died, freeing David up to move toward taking his place as king over Israel, as God anointed him to do (1 Samuel 16:1).The move brings David and his two wives nearer to the places they grew up. Hebron is not far from David's hometown of Bethlehem. Ahinoam, his first wife after Michal was taken from him by Saul (1 Samuel 25:44), is from Jezreel. The wise and beautiful Abigail, widowed when the Lord struck her foolish husband dead (1 Samuel 25:36–38), is from Carmel (1 Samuel 27:3). Carmel is also reasonably close to Hebron.
The inclusion of David's wives helps illustrate David's growing power. When he becomes king of Judah (2 Samuel 2:4), he has two wives. Nearer the time he becomes king of all Israel, David will have five wives and several sons (2 Samuel 3:2–5). When he is king, he will add even more (2 Samuel 5:13–16). To God, the multiple wives are unnecessary and possibly harmful if they follow foreign gods (Deuteronomy 17:17). To the people of the time, it's proof of David's power.
