שמואל ב, פרק ה׳, פסוק ב׳

The tribes of Israel gather to crown David over the entire nation, offering reasons for accepting his rule and explaining their past behavior. They remind David that even during the reign of Saul, David was the actual leader and a prominent military commander [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. By pointing this out, the tribes ask David not to show special favor to the tribe of Judah simply because they were the first to crown him. They emphasize that his leadership has always applied to the entire nation. Therefore, he should lead all the people equally, guiding them just as a shepherd tends to his flock [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].

At the same time, the tribes seek to appease David, hoping he will not hold a grudge against them for waiting so long after Saul's death to accept him as their king. They explain that this delay was actually part of a Divine plan. God's promise regarding David [מצודת ציון] was meant to unfold in stages. First, he was to shepherd Judah alone, and only afterward was he destined to become the king over all of Israel [חומת אנך, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Because God intended for David to lead the whole nation rather than just Judah, a renewed covenant is made with the elders. These elders act as representatives of the Sanhedrin, because appointing a king over the entire nation requires their formal agreement [מלבי״ם].