The Philistines Defeated^(A)

^17 (B)Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it ^(C)and went down to the stronghold. ¹⁸ The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in ^(D)the Valley of Rephaim.

¹³ Then ^(A)three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at ^(B)the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in ^(C)the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁴ David was then in ^(D)the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. ¹⁵ And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” ¹⁶ So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. ¹⁷ And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not ^(E)the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it.

These things were done by the three mighty men.

¹⁰ And David ^(A)inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”

The Lord said to him, “Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand.”

¹¹ So they went up to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there. Then David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore they called the name of that place ^[a]Baal Perazim. ¹² And when they left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.

^13 (B)Then the Philistines once again made a raid on the valley. ¹⁴ Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around them, ^(C)and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. ¹⁵ And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” ¹⁶ So David did as God commanded him, and they drove back the army of the Philistines from ^[b]Gibeon as far as Gezer. ¹⁷ Then ^(D)the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord ^(E)brought the fear of him upon all nations.

The Conquest of Jerusalem^(A)

^6 (B)And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against ^(C)the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.” ⁷ Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion ^(D)(that is, the City of David).

⁸ Now David said on that day, “Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul), ^(E)he shall be chief and captain.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”

⁶ Now David said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be ^[a]chief and captain.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief. ⁷ Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it ^[b]the City of David. ⁸ And he built the city around it, from ^[c]the Millo to the surrounding area. Joab ^[d]repaired the rest of the city. ⁹ So David ^(A)went on and became great, and the Lord of hosts was with ^(B)him.

David Established at Jerusalem^(A)

14 Now ^(B)Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house. ² So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was ^(C)highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem^(A)

15 David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, ^(B)and pitched a tent for it.

The Ark Brought from Kirjath Jearim^(A)

13 Then David consulted with the ^(B)captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. ² And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the Lord our God, let us send out to our brethren everywhere who are ^(C)left in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and their common-lands, that they may gather together to us; ³ and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, ^(D)for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul.” ⁴ Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

⁵ So ^(A)David gathered all Israel together, from ^(B)Shihor in Egypt to as far as the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God ^(C)from Kirjath Jearim.