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David Anointed as King over All of Israel

So all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and they said, “Here we are, we are your flesh and blood.[a] For some time,[b] when Saul was king over us, you were leading Israel in and out.[c] Yahweh had said to you, ‘You shall be the shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be the leader over Israel.’” All the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant[d] with them at Hebron in the presence of Yahweh; then they anointed David as king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign; he reigned forty years. He reigned over Judah at Hebron for seven years and six months; and he reigned over all Israel and Judah at Jerusalem for thirty-three years.

The Capture and Growth of Jerusalem

The king and his men went to Jerusalem, to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. They said to David, “You will not come here, for even the blind and the lame can turn you back, saying, ‘David cannot come here.’” David captured the fortress of Zion, the city of David. David had said, “On that day when we attack the Jebusites,[e] one must attack the lame and the blind, those who hate the soul of David, by means of the water supply.” For thus the blind and the lame would say, “He cannot come into the house.” David occupied the fortress and called it the city of David. And David built all around it from the Millo and inward.[f]

10 David continued growing stronger and stronger,[g] and Yahweh the God of hosts was with him. 11 So Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, along with cedar trees and craftsmen skilled in wood and in stone masonry,[h] and they built a house for David. 12 David realized that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom because of his people Israel. 13 David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 These are the names of the ones born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua and Shobab and Nathan and Solomon; 15 Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia; 16 Elishama and Eliada and Eliphelet.

War with the Philistines

17 When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David as king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David, but David heard and went down to the stronghold.[i] 18 Now the Philistines had come, and they spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up to the Philistines? Will you give them into my hands?” Yahweh said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give[j] the Philistines into your hand.” 20 So David came to Baal Perazim and defeated them there; and David said, “Yahweh has burst through my enemies before me like the bursting of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.[k] 21 They had left their idols there, so David and his men carried them away.

22 Once again[l] the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 So David inquired of Yahweh, but he said, “You shall not go up. Rather, go around to their rear and come to them from opposite the balsam trees. 24 And it shall be[m] that when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then pay attention, for then Yahweh has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 25 So David did thus, just as Yahweh had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Geba all the way[n] to Gezer.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 5:1 Literally “We are your bone and your flesh”
  2. 2 Samuel 5:2 Literally “Both yesterday and three days before”
  3. 2 Samuel 5:2 Literally “you were going out and coming in, Israel.” (So Kethib; Qere reads “bringing out and bringing in Israel”)
  4. 2 Samuel 5:3 Literally “cut a covenant”
  5. 2 Samuel 5:8 Literally “in all of the striking down the Jebusites”
  6. 2 Samuel 5:9 Literally “to the house”
  7. 2 Samuel 5:10 Literally “went going and great”
  8. 2 Samuel 5:11 Literally “skilled craftsmen of wood and skilled craftsmen of stone wall”
  9. 2 Samuel 5:17 Thought by many to be the stronghold of Masada
  10. 2 Samuel 5:19 Literally “giving I will give”
  11. 2 Samuel 5:20 Baal Perazim may mean “the master of the bursting through”
  12. 2 Samuel 5:22 Literally “And they again did again”
  13. 2 Samuel 5:24 Literally “And it shall happen”
  14. 2 Samuel 5:25 Literally “as you go up”

David King over All Israel

(A)Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and [a]said, “Behold, we are (B)your bone and your flesh. Previously, when Saul was king over us, (C)you were the one who led Israel [b]out and in. And the Lord said to you, ‘(D)You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be (E)a leader over Israel.’” So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David (F)made a covenant with them before the Lord in Hebron; then (G)they anointed David king over Israel. David was (H)thirty years old when he became king, and (I)he reigned for forty years. At Hebron (J)he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

(K)Now the king and his men went to (L)Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land; and they said to [c]David, “You shall not come in here, but even those who are blind and those who limp will turn you away,” [d]thinking, “David cannot enter here.” Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is, (M)the city of David. And David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites is to reach those who limp and those who are blind, who are hated by David’s soul, through the water tunnel.” For that reason they say, “People who are blind and people who limp shall not come into the house.” So David lived in the stronghold, and called it (N)the city of David. And David built all around from the [e](O)Millo and inward. 10 (P)David became greater and greater, for the Lord God of armies was with him.

11 (Q)Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, carpenters, and [f]stonemasons; and (R)they built a house for David. 12 And David realized that the Lord had appointed him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

13 Meanwhile (S)David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 Now (T)these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

War with the Philistines

17 Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, (U)all the Philistines went up to seek out David; and when David heard about it, he went down to the (V)stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines came and overran (W)the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So (X)David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You hand them over to me?” And (Y)the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly hand the Philistines over to you.” 20 Then David came to (Z)Baal-perazim and [g]defeated them there; and he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore he named that place [h]Baal-perazim. 21 And the Philistines abandoned their idols there, so (AA)David and his men carried them away.

22 Now (AB)the Philistines came up once again and overran the Valley of Rephaim. 23 So (AC)David inquired of the Lord, but He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the baka-shrubs. 24 And it shall be, when (AD)you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the baka-shrubs, then you shall [i]act promptly, for then (AE)the Lord will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” 25 Then David did so, just as the Lord had commanded him; he struck and killed the Philistines from [j](AF)Geba [k]as far as (AG)Gezer.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 5:1 Lit said, saying
  2. 2 Samuel 5:2 I.e., to battle and in (returning) from battle
  3. 2 Samuel 5:6 Lit David, saying
  4. 2 Samuel 5:6 Lit saying
  5. 2 Samuel 5:9 I.e., terraced structure
  6. 2 Samuel 5:11 Lit stone wall craftsmen
  7. 2 Samuel 5:20 Lit David struck
  8. 2 Samuel 5:20 I.e., the master of breakthroughs
  9. 2 Samuel 5:24 Or pay attention
  10. 2 Samuel 5:25 In 1 Chr 14:16, Gibeon
  11. 2 Samuel 5:25 Lit until you come to