David is king over Judah, but not the rest of Israel. We have civil war:

The war between the house of Saul and the house of David dragged on and on. The longer it went on the stronger David became, with the house of Saul getting weaker. (2 Samuel 3.1, MSG)

Israel’s General Abner shows his power by sleeping with one of King Saul’s concubines. When King Ish-Bosheth challenged him, Abner “lost his temper with Ish-Bosheth:”

Treat me like a dog, will you! Is this the thanks I get for sticking by the house of your father, Saul, and all his family and friends? I personally saved you from certain capture by David, and you make an issue out of my going to bed with a woman! What GOD promised David, I’ll help accomplish—transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and make David ruler over the whole country, both Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba. If not, may God do his worst to me. (2 Samuel 3.8, 9, MSG)

I’m intrigued that Abner knew God had promised the kingdom to David. If so, why was he leading the fight against David? Weird.

So Abner arranges for David to be crowned king over all Israel, meets with David, and departs in peace. Later, David’s general, Joab, finds out and is incensed:

Joab went straight to the king: “What’s this you’ve done? Abner shows up, and you let him walk away scot-free? You know Abner son of Ner better than that. This was no friendly visit. He was here to spy on you, figure out your comings and goings, find out what you’re up to.” Joab left David and went into action. He sent messengers after Abner; they caught up with him at the well at Sirah and brought him back. David knew nothing of all this. When Abner got back to Hebron, Joab steered him aside at the gate for a personal word with him. There he stabbed him in the belly, killed him in cold blood for the murder of his brother Asahel. (2 Samuel 3.24 – 27, MSG)

David led mourning for his former enemy, making it clear that he was not responsible for Abner’s murder. Later, at the end of his reign, he makes it clear to his son Solomon that Joab should not have avenged in peacetime a death that occurred in war. (1 Kings 2.5). By the way, Joab was David’s nephew, the son of his sister Zeruiah (see 1 Chronicles 2.12 – 16).

The king spoke to his servants: “You realize, don’t you, that today a prince and hero fell victim of foul play in Israel? And I, though anointed king, was helpless to do anything about it. These sons of Zeruiah are too much for me. GOD, requite the criminal for his crime!” (2 Samuel 3.38, 39, MSG)

And with Abner dead, two of King Ish-Bosheth’s officers kill him during his afternoon nap!

They entered the house on a ruse, pretending official business… and entered the room where Ish-Bosheth was asleep on his bed. They killed him and then cut off his head, carrying it off as a trophy… They presented the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron, telling the king, “Here’s the head of Ish-Bosheth, Saul’s son, your enemy…David answered the brothers Recab and Baanah…”As surely as GOD lives—the One who got me out of every trouble I’ve ever been in—when the messenger told me, ‘Good news! Saul is dead!’ supposing I’d be delighted, I arrested him and killed him on the spot in Ziklag. That’s what he got for his so-called good news! And now you show up—evil men who killed an innocent man in cold blood, a man asleep in his own house! Don’t think I won’t find you guilty of murder and rid the country of you!” David then issued orders to his soldiers. They killed the two—chopped off their hands and feet, and hung the corpses at the pool in Hebron. But Ish-Bosheth’s head they took and buried in Abner’s tomb in Hebron. (2 Samuel 4.6 – 12, MSG)

That’s the last of the murders (for now). The way is now clear for David to be king over all Israel:

Before long all the tribes of Israel approached David in Hebron and said, “Look at us—your own flesh and blood! In time past when Saul was our king, you’re the one who really ran the country. Even then GOD said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel and you’ll be the prince.’ ” All the leaders of Israel met with King David at Hebron, and the king made a treaty with them in the presence of GOD. And so they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he became king, and ruled for forty years. In Hebron he ruled Judah for seven and a half years. In Jerusalem he ruled all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years. (2 Samuel 5.1 – 5, MSG)

It took a long time, a lot of blood, sweat and tears, for David to be an overnight success!

Then he asked Jesse, “Is this it? Are there no more sons?” “Well, yes, there’s the runt. But he’s out tending the sheep.” Samuel ordered Jesse, “Go get him. We’re not moving from this spot until he’s here.” Jesse sent for him. He was brought in, the very picture of health—bright-eyed, good-looking. GOD said, “Up on your feet! Anoint him! This is the one.” Samuel took his flask of oil and anointed him, with his brothers standing around watching. The Spirit of GOD entered David like a rush of wind, God vitally empowering him for the rest of his life. Samuel left and went home to Ramah. (1 Samuel 16.11 – 13, MSG)

For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. (Psalm 75.6, 7, KJV)