2 Samuel 5

¹ All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Look, we are your bone and your flesh.

² In the past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and brought them in. And the LORD said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become ruler over Israel.'"

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

⁴ David was thirty years old when he became king, 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.

⁶ The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. They said to David, "You will not come in here — even the blind and the lame will turn you away," thinking, "David cannot come in here."

⁷ But David captured the stronghold of Zion — that is, the City of David.

⁸ David said on that day, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him reach the water shaft — and the lame and the blind who are hated by David's soul..." Therefore they say, "The blind and the lame shall not come into the house."

⁹ David settled in the stronghold and called it the City of David. David built up the area from the Millo inward.

¹⁰ David kept growing greater, and the LORD God of Hosts was with him.

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

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

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

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

¹⁵ Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

¹⁶ Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

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

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

¹⁹ David inquired of the LORD, "Should I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?" The LORD said to David, "Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand."

²⁰ David came to Baal-perazim, and David struck them down there. He said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like a breach of water." Therefore he called that place Baal-perazim.

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

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

²³ When David inquired of the LORD, he said, "Do not go up. Circle around behind them and come at them opposite the balsam trees.

²⁴ When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then act decisively, for then the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines."

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