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

Capture of Zion. Then the king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites who inhabited the land. These people said to David: “You will never come in here. Even the blind and the lame will stop you in your tracks.” In this way they showed their contempt for David and his forces.

[a]Despite their boast, David did take the stronghold of Zion, which is now known as the City of David. David had said on that day: “All those who are eager to attack the Jebusites must scale the water shaft to attack the lame and the blind, the bitter enemies of David.” Therefore, it is said: “The blind and the lame shall not enter the palace.”

David then took up residence in the stronghold and called it the City of David. After that, he constructed a wall around it from the Millo[b] inward.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 5:7 Stronghold of Zion: the name “Zion” continued in use and was extended to include the entire hill on which the temple would later be built (see 2 Sam 24:15-25; 2 Chr 3:1).
  2. 2 Samuel 5:9 Millo: a supporting terrace or embankment, the precise form of which we do not know, formed the southern extremity of the City of David (see 1 Ki 9:15; 2 Chr 32:5).

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

David Conquers Jerusalem(B)(C)

The king and his men marched to Jerusalem(D) to attack the Jebusites,(E) who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion(F)—which is the City of David.(G)

On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft(H) to reach those ‘lame and blind’(I) who are David’s enemies.[a]” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”

David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces[b](J) inward.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 5:8 Or are hated by David
  2. 2 Samuel 5:9 Or the Millo

David lived in the citadel, and thus it was called the City of David.

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David then took up residence in the fortress, and so it was called the City of David.

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