2 Samuel 6
David and his men brought the ark of God from Judah with the whole house of Israel celebrating with songs, harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals. They were taking it to Jerusalem, but on the way a man named Uzzah took hold of the ark and God struck him down and he died because of his irreverent act. After what had happened, David was afraid to now take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. So the ark was taken to the house of Obed-Edom for three months. When David saw that the Lord had blessed the household of Obed-Edom, he brought up the ark to the City of David with rejoicing and dancing. But David's wife "despised him (David) in her heart", disapproving of his manor of celebrating. David told her, "It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone... I will become even more undignified..." David was held in honor by his slaves and servants because of his humility before God.

2 Samuel 5
The elders of all the Israelite tribes gathered to anoint David as their king, remembering that the Lord had said of David, "You will shepherd my people and will become their ruler". David and his men conquered and took up residence in the fortress of Zion (the City of David). David "became more and more powerful because the Lord God Almighty was with him... and (God) established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people, Israel". When the Philistines heard that Dvid had been anointed king over all Israel, they gathered their full forces after him. David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?". The Lord answered, instructing David to proceed and that he would defeat them. "So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the PHhilistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer".

2 Samuel 4
Saul's son, Ishbosheth was murdered by two captains in his own army. They proudly brought news of what they had done to David, but David was angered and ordered that they should be executed for wickedly murdering an innocent man. David wanted to unite Israel, not divide him from Ishbosheth's supporters.

2 Samuel 3
After a long ongoing war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner sent a message to David asking for an agreement. Abner knew that the Lord had promised David the kingdom and David's throne would be over all Israel. When Joab and David's men returned from the battle, they found Abner and Joab killed him. David was very disturbed when he learned of what had happened, saying, "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner... May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family!". David sang a lament and wept with his people over Abner's death. David said to his men, " Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak..."

2 Samuel 2
David was anointed king over the tribe of Judah, while Saul's son ( Ish-Bosheth) was made king over Gilead, Ashuri, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel. Abner, the commander of Saul's army lead his men against David's men at the pool of Gibeon. "The battle was very fierce.. and the Israelites were defeated by David's men" David lost nineteen men, while three hundred and sixty of Abner's men had been killed. Abner cried, "Must the sword devour forever? Don't you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?"

1 Samuel 31 and 2 Samuel 1
The Philistines were fighting fiercely against Israel, killing Saul's sons and finally wounding him critically also. Saul asked his armor-bearer to finish him with his sword, but he was scared and did not comply. Saul then fell on his own sword and died. The Israelites fled and abandoned their towns in defeat. When David and his men learned of the death of Saul and Jonathan, they mourned and wept and fasted. David wrote a lament and ordered that the people of Judah learn his lament: "... Saul and Jonathan--in life they were loved and admired.. how the mighty have fallen in battle... I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother, you were very dear to me..."

1 Samuel 29-30
The Philistine commanders insisted that David and his men leave the battlefield and return home to the land of the Philistines. They were worried that he would turn against them and support the Israelites as he did when he was one of King Saul's officers.
When David and his men returned, they learned that the Amalekites had raided their homes, burning everything and taking captive their wives. David was greatly distressed, but "found strength in the Lord his God." David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?" Upon God's direction, David and his men fought and recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including their wives and all the plunder.