1All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, ‘We are your own flesh and blood.2In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, “You shall shepherd my people Israel, and you shall become their ruler.” ’3When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.4David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years.5In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.
David conquers Jerusalem
6The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, ‘You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.’ They thought, ‘David cannot get in here.’7Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion – which is the City of David.8On that day David had said, ‘Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those “lame and blind” who are David’s enemies.[1]’ That is why they say, ‘The “blind and lame” will not enter the palace.’9David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces[2] inwards.10And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.11Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.12Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.13After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.14These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,16Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.
David defeats the Philistines
17When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.18Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;19so David enquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?’ The Lord answered him, ‘Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.’20So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, ‘As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.’ So that place was called Baal Perazim.[3]21The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.22Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;23so David enquired of the Lord, and he answered, ‘Do not go straight up, but circle round behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees.24As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.’25So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon[4] to Gezer. (1Ch 14:16)
2 Samuel 5
English Standard Version
David Anointed King of Israel
1Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. (Ge 29:14; 1Ch 11:1)2In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince[1] over Israel.’” (1Sa 18:13; 2Sa 7:7; 1Ch 17:6; Ps 78:71; Mt 2:6)3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. (Jud 11:11; 1Sa 23:18; 2Sa 3:12; 2Sa 3:21; 2Ki 11:17)4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. (1Ki 2:11; 1Ch 3:4; 1Ch 29:27)5At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.[2] (2Sa 2:11; 2Sa 5:4)6And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” (Jos 15:63; Jud 1:21; Jud 19:11; 1Ch 11:4)7Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. (2Sa 6:12; 2Sa 6:16)8And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”9And David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built the city all around from the Millo inward. (2Sa 5:7; 1Ki 9:15; 1Ki 9:24; 1Ki 11:27; 2Ki 12:20; 2Ch 32:5)10And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.11And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house. (1Ch 14:1)12And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.13And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David. (1Ch 3:9)14And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, (1Ch 3:5)15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
David Defeats the Philistines
17When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. (1Sa 22:4; 2Sa 23:14)18Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. (Jos 15:8; Jos 17:15; Jos 18:16; 2Sa 5:22; 2Sa 23:13)19And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” (2Sa 2:1)20And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.[3] (Isa 28:21)21And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.22And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. (2Sa 5:18)23And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. (1Sa 22:10)24And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” (Jud 4:14; 2Ki 7:6)25And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer. (Jos 10:33)