After Saul died, all Israel came together to make David their king. At this time, David consulted with leaders from every tribe to get their advice about bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and inviting all Israel to gather together for the occasion. The assembly gladly approved the idea. So David invited Israelites from as far South as “Shihor in Egypt” (“Shihor,” meaning “black,” was another name for the Nile River), and as far North as “Hamath” (A city located deep in modern Syria called “Hama”), which at that time was a possession of Israel.
David had the Ark brought from “Kirjath Jearim,” the place where it had rested for 20 years, since its capture and return by the Philistines (1 Sam. 7:1-2). Unlike king Saul, David wanted the Ark nearby, that he might inquire of the Lord, something that Saul had not done.
King David’s first act as king revealed his heart for the Lord and his wisdom for uniting the twelve tribes into one nation.