2 Samuel 5

1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and told him, “We are your flesh and blood.

2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was thou that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and Jehovah said to thee, Thou shalt be shepherd of my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.

Previously when Saul was our king, you were the one who led the Israelite army into battle. The Lord told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be their ruler.’”

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Jehovah: and they anointed David king over Israel.

All the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made an agreement with them in the Lord's presence. Then they anointed him king of Israel.

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

David was thirty when he became king, and he reigned for forty years.

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

He reigned over Judah seven years and six months from Hebron, and he reigned over all of Israel and Judah for thirty-three years from Jerusalem.

6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither; thinking, David cannot come in hither.

David the king and his men went to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites who were living there. The Jebusites told David: “You'll never enter here. Even the blind and lame could stop you.” They were convinced that David could not get in.

7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.

But David did capture the fortress of Zion, now known as the City of David.

8 And David said on that day, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and [smite] the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul. Wherefore they say, There are the blind and the lame; he cannot come into the house.

At that time he said, “If we are to successfully conquer the Jebusites we'll have to go up the water shaft to attack these ‘lame and blind’ —these people who hate David. This is why it's said, ‘The blind and the lame will never enter the house.’”

9 And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

David went and lived in the fortress, and named it the City of David. He extended it in all directions, starting from the outer supporting terraces and moving inwards.

10 And David waxed greater and greater; for Jehovah, the God of hosts, was with him.

David became increasingly powerful, for the Lord God Almighty was with him.

11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.

King Hiram of Tyre sent representatives to David, together with cedar timber, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.

12 And David perceived that Jehovah had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.

David realized that the Lord had installed him as king of Israel, and had made his kingdom great for the sake of his people Israel.

13 And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron; and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.

After he moved from Hebron, David added more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and he had more sons and daughters.

14 And these are the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

These are the names of his children born in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

15 and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

16 and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.

Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

17 And when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, the whole Philistine army came out to capture him, but David found out and went inside the stronghold.

18 Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

The Philistines came and spread out across the Valley of Rephaim.

19 And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And Jehovah said unto David, Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into thy hand.

David asked the Lord “Should I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” “Yes, go,” the Lord replied, “for I will definitely hand them over to you.”

20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and he said, Jehovah hath broken mine enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.

David went to Baal-perazim and he defeated the Philistines there. “Like a flood that bursts out, so the Lord has burst out against my enemies right before me,” David declared. So he named that place Baal-perazim.

21 And they left their images there; and David and his men took them away.

The Philistines left their idols behind, and David and his men removed them.

22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

A while later the Philistines came again and spread out across the Valley of Rephaim.

23 And when David inquired of Jehovah, he said, Thou shalt not go up: make a circuit behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees.

David asked the Lord what to do. The Lord replied, “Don't attack them directly, but go round behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.

24 And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then is Jehovah gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.

Immediately you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees be ready, because this means the Lord has marched out before you to attack the Philistine camp.”

25 And David did so, as Jehovah commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gezer.

David followed the Lord's orders, and he slaughtered the Philistines from Geba all the way to Gezer.