2 Samuel 5
Christian Standard Bible
David, King of Israel
5 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron(A) and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.[a](B) 2 Even while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led us out to battle and brought us back.(C) The Lord also said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be ruler over Israel.’”
3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. King David made a covenant with them(D) at Hebron in the Lord’s presence, and they anointed David king over Israel.
4 David was thirty years old when he began his reign;(E) 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 marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites(F) who inhabited the land. The Jebusites had said to David, “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you” thinking, “David can’t get in here.”
7 Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.(G) 8 He said that day, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must go through the water shaft to reach the lame and the blind who are despised by David.”[b] For this reason it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the house.”[c]
9 David took up residence in the stronghold, which he named the city of David. He built it up all the way around from the supporting terraces inward. 10 David became more and more powerful,(H) and the Lord God of Armies was with him.(I) 11 King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David; he also sent cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons,(J) and they built a palace for David. 12 Then 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 After he arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 These are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan,(K) Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.(L)
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel,(M) they all went in search of David, but he heard about it and went down to the stronghold.(N) 18 So the Philistines came and spread out in Rephaim Valley.
19 Then David inquired of the Lord:(O) “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”
The Lord replied to David, “Attack, for I will certainly hand the Philistines over to you.”
20 So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there and said, “Like a bursting flood, the Lord has burst out against my enemies before me.”(P) Therefore, he named that place The Lord Bursts Out.[d] 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
22 The Philistines came up again and spread out in Rephaim Valley. 23 So David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not attack directly, but 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, act decisively, for then the Lord will have gone out ahead of you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”(Q) 25 So David did exactly as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.
2 Samuel 5
Common English Bible
David becomes king of Israel and Judah
5 All the Israelite tribes came to David at Hebron and said, “Listen: We are your very own flesh and bone. 2 In the past, when Saul ruled over us, you were the one who led Israel out to war and back. What’s more, the Lord told you, You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be Israel’s leader.
3 So all the Israelite elders came to the king at Hebron. King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.
4 David was 30 years old when he became king, and he ruled for forty years. 5 He ruled over Judah for seven and a half years in Hebron. He ruled thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is captured
6 The king and his troops marched on Jerusalem against the Jebusites, who inhabited the territory. The Jebusites said to David, “You’ll never get us in here! Even the blind and the lame will beat you back!” “David will never enter here,” they said to each other.[a] 7 But David did capture the fortress of Zion—which became David’s City. 8 “On that day,” David said, “whoever attacks the Jebusites should strike the windpipe because David hates the lame and the blind.”[b] That is why people say, “The blind and the lame will not enter the temple.”[c] 9 David occupied the fortress, so it was renamed David’s City. David built a city around it from the earthen terraces[d] inward.[e] 10 David grew increasingly powerful, and the Lord of heavenly forces was with him.
11 Tyre’s King Hiram sent messengers to David with cedar logs, bricklayers, and carpenters to build David a palace. 12 Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingship was held in great honor for the sake of his people Israel. 13 After he left Hebron, David married more secondary wives in Jerusalem and fathered more sons and daughters. 14 The names of his children in Jerusalem were as follows: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
David defeats the Philistines
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all marched up to find him, but David heard of it and went down to the fortress. 18 The Philistines arrived and spread out over the Rephaim Valley. 19 David asked the Lord, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”
“Attack them,” the Lord replied, “because I will definitely hand the Philistines over to you.”
20 So David arrived at Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. He said, “The Lord has burst out against my enemies, the way water bursts out!” That is why that place is called Baal-perazim.[f] 21 The Philistines left their divine images behind, and David and his men carried them off.
22 Once again the Philistines came up and spread out across the Rephaim Valley. 23 When David asked the Lord, God replied, “Don’t attack them directly. Circle around behind them and come at them from in front of the balsam trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, then attack, for God has attacked in front of you to defeat the Philistine army.” 25 David followed God’s orders exactly, and they defeated the Philistine army from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 5:6 Or they thought; Heb lacks to each other.
- 2 Samuel 5:8 Or take the water shaft against the lame and the blind who hate David; Heb uncertain
- 2 Samuel 5:8 Or palace
- 2 Samuel 5:9 Heb Millo
- 2 Samuel 5:9 DSS (4QSama); MT lacks city.
- 2 Samuel 5:20 Baal-perazim means the lord (Heb baal) of breaking out; see note at 2 Sam 6:8.
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