2 Samuel 5

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

2In the past, even while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out to battle and brought them back. And Yahweh said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will 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 became king, and he reigned forty years.

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

6The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, who lived in the land. They said to David, “You will never get in here. Even the blind and the lame can turn you away.” They were thinking, “David cannot get in here.”

7Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, which is now the City of David.

8On that day David said, “Whoever would strike down the Jebusites must go up through the water shaft to reach ‘the lame and the blind,’ whom David hates.” That is why it is said, “The blind and the lame will not come into the house.”

9David took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area all around it, from the Millo inward.

10David became greater and greater, because Yahweh God of Armies was with him.

11Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.

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

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

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

15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

17When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.

18The Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

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

20So David went to Baal-perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “Yahweh has broken through my enemies ahead of me like water breaking through.” That is why that place was named Baal-perazim.

21The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.

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

23When David asked Yahweh, he said, “Do not go straight up. Circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.

24As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, for that will mean Yahweh has gone out ahead of you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”

25David did just as Yahweh had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.