2 Samuel 2:4

They anointed David. David had already been anointed privately by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:13). This gave him the evidence that his appointment was of God. He was now publicly anointed in recognition of his acceptance by the tribe of Judah. Saul too was first privately anointed by Samuel and later publicly proclaimed king (1 Samuel 10:1, 24; 11:14, 15). David’s countrymen in Judah had long recognized that David had been divinely selected for their future king and to a large extent had been on friendly terms with him during the long period when he was an outlaw and a fugitive from Saul. In recognition of their kindness David had sent presents to them (1 Samuel 30:26-31), thus maintaining the bond of friendship and attachment. Later David was anointed a third time, as king over all the tribes (2 Samuel 5:3).

Jabesh-gilead. A town about 2 2/3 mi. (4.3 km.) east of Jordan, about 21 1/2 mi. (34.4 km.) from the Sea of Galilee. For more on this site see on 1 Samuel 11:1. Saul had come to the rescue of Jabesh-gilead when Nahash the Ammonite encamped against it, putting the Ammonites to flight (1 Samuel 11:1-11). It was evidently for this kindness that the men of Jabesh-gilead had rescued the body of Saul from the wall of Beth-shan and had given it an honorable burial (1 Samuel 31:11-13; 1 Chronicles 10:11, 12).