2 Samuel 5 | New International Reader’s Version

New International Reader’s Version

David becomes king over Israel

1 All the tribes of Israel came to see David at Hebron. They said, ‘We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, Saul was our king. But you led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD said to you, “You will be the shepherd over my people Israel. You will become their ruler.” ’ 3 All the elders of Israel came to see King David at Hebron. There the king made a covenant with them in front of the LORD. They anointed David as king over Israel. 4 David was 30 years old when he became king. He ruled for 40 years. 5 In Hebron he ruled over Judah for seven and a half years. In Jerusalem he ruled over all of Israel and Judah for 33 years.

David captures Jerusalem

6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem. They went to attack the Jebusites who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, ‘You won’t get in here. Even people who can’t see or walk can keep you from coming in.’ The Jebusites thought, ‘David can’t get in here.’ 7 But David captured the fort of Zion. It became known as the City of David. 8 On that day David had said, ‘Someone might win the battle over the Jebusites. But they will have to crawl through the water tunnel to get into the city. That’s the only way they can reach those enemies of mine that you say can’t see or walk.’ That’s why people say, ‘Those who “can’t see or walk” won’t enter David’s palace.’ 9 David moved into the fort. He called it the City of David. He built up the area around the fort. He filled in the low places. He started at the bottom and worked his way up. 10 David became more and more powerful. That’s because the LORD God who rules over all was with him. 11 Hiram was king of Tyre. He sent messengers to David. He sent cedar logs along with them. He also sent skilled workers. They worked with wood and stone. They built a palace for David. 12 Then David knew that the LORD had made his position as king secure. He knew that he had made him king over the whole nation of Israel. He knew that the LORD had greatly honoured his kingdom. The LORD had done it because the Israelites were his people. 13 After David left Hebron, he got more concubines and wives in Jerusalem. More sons and daughters were born to him there. 14 Here is a list of the children who were born to him in Jerusalem. Their names were Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

David wins the battle over the Philistines

17 The Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel. So their whole army went to look for him. But David heard about it. He went down to his usual place of safety. 18 The Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David asked the LORD for advice. He said, ‘Should I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?’ The LORD answered him, ‘Go. I will surely hand over the Philistines to you.’ 20 So David went to Baal Perazim. There he won the battle over the Philistines. He said, ‘The LORD has broken through against my enemies when I’ve attacked them. He has broken through just as water breaks through a dam.’ That’s why the place was called Baal Perazim. 21 The Philistines left the statues of their gods there. So David and his men carried off the statues. 22 Once more the Philistines came up. They spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 So David asked the LORD for advice. The LORD answered, ‘Do not go straight up. Instead, circle around behind them. Attack them in front of the poplar trees. 24 Listen for the sound of marching in the tops of the trees. Then move quickly. The sound will mean that I have gone out in front of you. I will strike down the Philistine army.’ 25 So David did just as the LORD had commanded him. He struck down the Philistines. He struck them down from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.

Nuova Riveduta 2006

from Società Biblica di Ginevra

Davide, riconosciuto come re da tutte le tribù, si stabilisce a Sion

1 Allora tutte le tribù d’Israele vennero a trovare Davide a Ebron e gli dissero: «Ecco, noi siamo tue ossa e tua carne. 2 Già in passato, quando Saul regnava su di noi, eri tu che facevi uscire e ritornare Israele; il Signore ti ha detto: “Tu sarai pastore del mio popolo, Israele, tu sarai il principe d’Israele”». 3 Così tutti gli anziani d’Israele vennero dal re a Ebron e il re Davide fece alleanza con loro a Ebron in presenza del Signore; ed essi unsero Davide come re d’Israele. 4 Davide aveva trent’anni quando fu nominato re e regnò quarant’anni. 5 Da Ebron regnò su Giuda sette anni e sei mesi e da Gerusalemme regnò trentatré anni su tutto Israele e Giuda. 6 Allora il re, con la sua gente, si mosse verso Gerusalemme contro i Gebusei che abitavano quel paese. Questi dissero a Davide: «Tu non entrerai qua; perché i ciechi e gli zoppi ti respingeranno!» Volevano dire: «Davide non entrerà mai». 7 Ma Davide prese la fortezza di Sion, che è la città di Davide. 8 Davide disse in quel giorno: «Chiunque batterà i Gebusei giungendo fino al canale e respingerà gli zoppi e i ciechi che sono gli avversari di Davide...». Da questo ha origine il detto: «Il cieco e lo zoppo non entreranno nel tempio». 9 Davide abitò nella fortezza e la chiamò «Città di Davide»; e vi fece delle costruzioni intorno, cominciando da Millo^[1] verso l’interno. 10 Davide diventava sempre più grande e il Signore, il Dio degli eserciti, era con lui. 11 Chiram, re di Tiro, inviò a Davide dei messaggeri, del legname di cedro, dei falegnami e dei muratori, i quali costruirono un palazzo a Davide. 12 Allora Davide riconobbe che il Signore lo stabiliva saldamente come re d’Israele e rendeva grande il suo regno per amore del suo popolo Israele. 13 Dopo il suo arrivo da Ebron, Davide si prese ancora delle concubine e delle mogli di Gerusalemme, e gli nacquero altri figli e altre figlie. 14 Questi sono i nomi dei figli che gli nacquero a Gerusalemme: Sammua, Sobab, Natan, Salomone, 15 Ibar, Elisua, Nefeg, Iafia, 16 Elisama, Eliada, Elifelet.

Vittorie di Davide sui Filistei

17 Quando i Filistei udirono che Davide era stato unto re d’Israele, salirono tutti a cercarlo. Davide lo seppe e scese alla fortezza. 18 I Filistei giunsero e si sparsero nella valle dei Refaim. 19 Allora Davide consultò il Signore e disse: «Devo salire contro i Filistei? Me li darai nelle mani?» Il Signore rispose a Davide: «Sali, perché certamente ti darò i Filistei nelle mani». 20 Davide dunque si recò a Baal-Perasim, dove li sconfisse, ed esclamò: «Il Signore ha disperso i miei nemici davanti a me come si disperde l’acqua». Perciò chiamò quel luogo Baal-Perasim^[2]. 21 I Filistei lasciarono là i loro idoli, e Davide e la sua gente li portarono via. 22 I Filistei salirono poi di nuovo e si sparsero nella valle di Refaim. 23 Davide consultò il Signore il quale gli disse: «Non salire; gira alle loro spalle e giungerai su di loro di fronte ai Gelsi. 24 Quando udrai un rumore di passi tra le vette dei gelsi, lanciati subito all’attacco, perché allora il Signore marcerà davanti a te per sconfiggere l’esercito dei Filistei». 25 Davide fece così come il Signore gli aveva comandato e sconfisse i Filistei da Gheba fino a Ghezer.