2 Samuel 5:1-10

International Standard Version

David Becomes King over Israel^(A)

5 After this, all of the tribes of Israel assembled with David at Hebron and declared, “Look, we’re your own flesh and blood!^{[a] 2} Even back when Saul was our king, it was you who kept on leading Israel out to battle^[b] and bringing them back again.^[c] The Lord told you, ‘You yourself will shepherd my people Israel and serve as Commander-in-Chief^[d] over Israel.’” ³ So all the elders of Israel approached the king at Hebron, where King David entered into a covenant with them in the presence of the Lord. Then they anointed David to be king over Israel.

David Establishes Jerusalem as His Capital^(B)

⁴ David began to reign when he was 30 years old, and he reigned 40 years. ⁵ He reigned over Judah for seven years and six months in Hebron, and he reigned over all of Israel including Judah for 33 years in Jerusalem. ⁶ Later, the king and his army marched on Jerusalem against the Jebusites, who were inhabiting the territory at that time^[e] and who had told David, “You’re not coming in here! Even the blind and the lame could turn you away!” because they were thinking^[f] “David can’t come here.” ⁷ Even so, David captured the stronghold of Zion, which is now known as^[g] the City of David.

⁸ At that time,^[h] David had said, “Whoever intends to attack the Jebusites will have to climb up the water shaft to attack the lame and blind, who hate David.”^[i]

Therefore they say, “The blind and lame are never to come into the house.” ⁹ David occupied^[j] the fortress, naming it the City of David. He^[k] built up the surroundings from the terrace ramparts^[l] inward. ¹⁰ David became more and more esteemed because the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies was with him.