2 Samuel 5

1Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Look, we are your bone and your flesh.”

2Also previously, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in. And Yahweh said to you, ‘You shall shepherd my people Israel, and you shall be ruler over Israel.’

3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before Yahweh, and they anointed David king over Israel.

4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

6And the king and his men went to Jerusalem, to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. And they said to David, “You will not come in here, for even the blind and the lame will turn you away,” saying, “David will not come in here.”

7But David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is, the City of David.

8And David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites and reaches the water shaft, and the lame and the blind, whom David’s soul hates.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”

9So David lived in the stronghold and called it the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo inward.

10And David went on, growing greater, and Yahweh, the God of hosts, was with him.

11And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar logs, and craftsmen of wood, and craftsmen of stone walling; and they built a house for David.

12And David knew that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

13And David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David.

14These are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon.

15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, and Japhia.

16and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.

17When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. When David heard of it, he went down to the stronghold.

18And the Philistines came and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

19And David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And Yahweh said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.”

20So David came to Baal-perazim, and there David struck them down. He said, “Yahweh has broken through my enemies before me like a breakthrough of waters.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.

21And they left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.

22And the Philistines came up again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

23So David inquired of Yahweh, and he said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come against them opposite the balsam trees.”

24And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then act decisively, for then Yahweh has gone out before you to strike down the camp of the Philistines.

25And David did so, just as Yahweh had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.