דברי הימים א, פרק י״א, פסוק א׳

Following the deaths of Saul and his son Ish-bosheth, the nation is left without a designated heir to the throne. At this historic turning point, the people unite around David's leadership. The narrative intentionally skips the early years when David ruled only over the tribe of Judah, deliberately omitting the internal struggles with the house of Saul. This omission serves to honor David by focusing entirely on his universal kingship over the whole nation, a stage that finally fulfills Samuel's earlier prophecy [מלבי״ם, רלב״ג].

Representatives from all the tribes travel to Hebron. Although David's rule at that time was limited to Judah and its surrounding area, the people arrive to establish him as the king over the entire nation [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This gathering unfolds in stages. First, the general public arrives on their own initiative. Afterward, the elders of the community, acting as the high court, step forward to officially anoint him, as the formal appointment of a king must be carried out by the elders [מלבי״ם].

Upon approaching David, the Israelites declare that they are his own bone and flesh. The primary approach among commentators views this as an expression of deep national brotherhood. Even though David belongs specifically to the tribe of Judah, the people emphasize that they are all descendants of a single patriarch. Therefore, David is not a stranger to them, but rather their own flesh and blood [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ, חומת אנך].

Another perspective connects this declaration to the profound trust David earned through his actions. When the Israelites saw David severely punish the murderers of Ish-bosheth, they realized his genuine concern for the entire nation. This proved to them that he truly cared for all of Israel, prompting them to express that they now know he views them as his own flesh [חומת אנך]. On a deeper level, this statement touches upon the very essence of David's soul. According to this approach, David encompasses all the souls of Israel, as his soul is bound to that of the first man. For this reason, the acceptance of his kingship had to take place specifically in Hebron. This city is the resting place of the Patriarchs, who were similarly dedicated to repairing the spiritual damage caused by the first man [חומת אנך].