2 Samuel 5

1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said, Truly, we are your bone and your flesh.

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, saying, "Look, we are your bone and your flesh.

2 In the past when Saul was king over us, it was you who went at the head of Israel when they went out or came in: and the Lord said to you, You are to be the keeper of my people Israel and their ruler.

In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. The LORD said to you, 'You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be ruler over Israel.'"

3 So all the responsible men of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they put the holy oil on David and made him king over Israel.

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

4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he was king for forty years,

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

5 Ruling over Judah in Hebron for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem, over all Israel and Judah, for thirty-three years.

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

6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the people of the land: and they said to David, You will not come in here, but the blind and the feeble-footed will keep you out; for they said, David will not be able to come in here.

The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, "You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will repel you"; thinking, "David can't come in here."

7 But David took the strong place of Zion, which is the town of David.

Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the City of David.

8 And that day David said, Whoever makes an attack on the Jebusites, let him go up by the water-pipe, and put to death all the blind and feeble-footed who are hated by David. And this is why they say, The blind and feeble-footed may not come into the house.

David said on that day, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and strike the lame and the blind, those who hate the soul of David." Therefore they say, "The blind and the lame can't come into the palace."

9 So David took the strong tower for his living-place, naming it the town of David. And David took in hand the building of the town all round, starting from the Millo.

David lived in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. And he built a city all around from the Millo and inward.

10 And David became greater and greater; for the Lord, the God of armies, was with him.

David grew greater and greater; for the LORD of hosts was with him.

11 And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent men to David, with cedar-trees and woodworkers and stoneworkers: and they made David a house.

Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and craftsmen of wood, and craftsmen of a wall; and they built David a palace.

12 And David saw that the Lord had made his position safe as king over Israel, and that he had made his kingdom great because of his people Israel.

And David knew that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.

13 And David took more women and wives in Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron: and he had more sons and daughters.

David took more secondary wives and wives out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron; and there were born to David more sons and daughters.

14 These are the names of those whose birth took place in Jerusalem: Shammua and Shobab and Nathan and Solomon

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

15 And Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia

and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Eliphelet, and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

16 And Elishama and Eliada and Eliphelet.

and Elishama, and Baaliada, and Eliphelet.

17 And when the Philistines had news that David had been made king over Israel, they all went up in search of David; and David, hearing of it, went down to the strong place.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold.

18 And when the Philistines came, they went in every direction in the valley of Rephaim.

Now the Philistines came and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

19 And David, desiring directions from the Lord, said, Am I to go up against the Philistines? will you give them up into my hands? And the Lord said, Go up, for I will certainly give up the Philistines into your hands.

David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?" The LORD said to David, "Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand."

20 And David went to Baal-perazim, and overcame them there; and he said, The Lord has let the forces fighting against me be broken before me as a wall is broken by rushing waters. So that place was named Baal-perazim.

David came to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there; and he said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of waters." Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.

21 And the Philistines, when they went in flight, did not take their images with them, and David and his men took them away.

And they abandoned their idols there; and David and his men took them away.

22 And the Philistines came up again, and went in every direction in the valley of Rephaim.

The Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.

23 And when David went for directions to the Lord, he said, You are not to go up against them in front; but make a circle round them from the back and come on them opposite the spice-trees.

And David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD said to him, "You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and attack them opposite the poplar trees.

24 Then at the sound of footsteps in the tops of the trees, go forward quickly, for the Lord has gone out before you to overcome the army of the Philistines.

And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, that then you are to act decisively; for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines."

25 And David did as the Lord had said; and he overcame the Philistines, attacking them from Gibeon to near Gezer.

David did so, as the LORD commanded him, and struck the Philistines from Geba as far as the approach to Gezer.