As soon as David was established on the throne of Israel he began to seek a more appropriate location for the capital of his realm. Twenty miles from Hebron a place was selected as the future metropolis of the kingdom. Before Joshua had led the armies of Israel over Jordan it had been called Salem. Near this place Abraham had proved his loyalty to God. Eight hundred years before the coronation of David it had been the home of Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God. It held a central and elevated position in the country and was protected by an environment of hills. Being on the border between Benjamin and Judah, it was in close proximity to Ephraim and was easy of access to the other tribes.

Dette kapitel er bygget op over 2 Sam 5,6-25; 6; 7; 9; 10
Lige så snart David havde besteget Israels trone, begyndte han at se sig om efter en mere velegnet hovedstad. Han valgte en by ca. 30 kilometer fra Hebron til rigets fremtidige hovedstad. Før Josua førte Israels hære over Jordan, hed byen Salem. Det var i nærheden af dette sted, at Abraham bestod sin store troskabsprøve over for Gud. 800 år før David blev kronet, boede Melkisedek, Gud den Allerhøjestes præst, i denne by. Den lå højt og centralt og var indhegnet af bjerge. Den var beliggende på grænsen mellem Benjamin og Juda, ikke ret langt fra Efraim, og var let tilgængelig for alle de øvrige stammer.