2 Samuel 5

1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

And all the tribes of Israel come to David to Chebron, and they said to him, Behold, we [are] your bone and your flesh.

2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and in. Yahweh said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be prince over Israel.’”

And heretofore Saul being king over us, you was he that did lead out and bring in Israel: and the Lord said to you, You shall feed my people Israel, and you shall be for a leader to my people Israel.

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

And all the elders of Israel come to the king to Chebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Chebron before the Lord; and they anoint David king over all Israel.

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

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

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

Seven years and six months he reigned in Chebron over Juda, and thirty-three years he reigned over all Israel and Juda in Jerusalem.

6 The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “The blind and the lame will keep you out of here,” thinking, “David can’t come in here.”

And David and his men, departed to Jerusalem, to the Jebusite that inhabited the land: and it was said to David, You shall not come in hither: for the blind and the lame withstood him, saying, David shall not come in hither.

7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. This is David’s city.

And David took first the hold of Sion: this [is] the city of David.

8 David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him go up to the watercourse and strike those lame and blind, who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame can’t come into the house.”

And David said on that day, Every one that smites the Jebusite, let him attack with the dagger both the lame and the blind, and those that hate the soul of David. Therefore they say, The lame and the blind shall not enter into the house of the Lord.

9 David lived in the stronghold, and called it David’s city. David built around from Millo and inward.

And David lived in the hold, and it was called the city of David, and he built the city itself round about from the citadel, and [he built] his own house.

10 David grew greater and greater, for Yahweh, the God of Armies, was with him.

And David advanced and became great, and the Lord Almighty [was] with him.

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

And Chiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar wood, and carpenters, and stone-masons: and they built a house for David.

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

And David knew that the Lord had prepared him to be king over Israel, and that his kingdom was exalted for the sake of his people Israel.

13 David took more concubines and wives for himself out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David.

And David took again wives and concubines out of Jerusalem, after he came from Chebron: and David had still more sons and daughters born to him.

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

And these [are] the names of those that were born to him in Jerusalem; Sammus, and Sobab, and Nathan, and Solomon.

15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

And Ebear, and Elisue, and Naphec, and Jephies.

16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

And Elisama, and Elidae, and Eliphalath, Samae, Jessibath, Nathan, Galamaan, Jebaar, Theesus, Eliphalat, Naged, Naphec, Janathan, Leasamys, Baalimath, Eliphaath.

17 When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.

And the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over Israel; and all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the strong hold.

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

And the Philistines came, and assembled in the valley of the giants.

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

And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and will you deliver them into my hands? and the Lord said to David, Go up, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.

20 David came to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there. Then he said, “Yahweh has broken my enemies before me, like the breach of waters.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.

And David came from Upper Breaches, and struck the Philistines there: and David said, The Lord has destroyed the hostile Philistines before me, as water is dispersed; therefore the name of that place was called Over Breaches.

21 They left their images there, and David and his men took them away.

And they leave there their gods, and David and his men with him took them.

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

And the Philistines came up yet again, and assembled in the valley of Giants.

23 When David inquired of Yahweh, he said, “You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and attack them in front of the mulberry trees.

And David enquired of the Lord: and the Lord said, You shall not go up to meet them: turn from them, and you shall meet them near the place of weeping.

24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then stir yourself up; for then Yahweh has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”

And it shall come to pass when you hear the sound of a clashing together from the grove of weeping, then you shall go down to them, for then the Lord shall go forth before you to make havoc in the battle with the Philistines.

25 David did so, as Yahweh commanded him, and struck the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.

And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck the Philistines from Gabaon as far as the land of Gazera.