David Conquers Jerusalem^(A)(B)

⁶ The king and his men marched to Jerusalem^(C) to attack the Jebusites,^(D) 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.” ⁷ Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion^(E)—which is the City of David.^(F)

⁸ On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft^(G) to reach those ‘lame and blind’^(H) who are David’s enemies.^[a]” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”

⁹ 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](I) inward.

⁵ said to David, “You will not get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.

⁶ David had said, “Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will become commander in chief.” Joab^(A) son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he received the command.

⁷ David then took up residence in the fortress, and so it was called the City of David.