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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 Reigns over All Israel(A)

Then all the tribes of Israel (B)came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed (C)we are your bone and your flesh. Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, (D)you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord said to you, (E)‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ” (F)Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, (G)and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron (H)before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel. David was (I)thirty years old when he began to reign, and (J)he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah (K)seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

The Conquest of Jerusalem(L)

(M)And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against (N)the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (O)(that is, the City of David).

Now David said on that day, “Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul), (P)he shall be chief and captain.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”

Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it (Q)the City of David. And David built all around from [a]the Millo and inward. 10 So David went on and became great, and (R)the Lord God of hosts was with (S)him.

11 Then (T)Hiram (U)king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house. 12 So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had (V)exalted His kingdom (W)for the sake of His people Israel.

13 And (X)David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 Now (Y)these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: [b]Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, (Z)Solomon, 15 Ibhar, [c]Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

The Philistines Defeated(AA)

17 (AB)Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it (AC)and went down to the stronghold. 18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in (AD)the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David (AE)inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”

And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

20 So David went to (AF)Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place [d]Baal Perazim. 21 And they left their [e]images there, and David and his men (AG)carried them away.

22 (AH)Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 Therefore (AI)David inquired of the Lord, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. 24 And it shall be, when you (AJ)hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then (AK)the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 25 And David did so, as the Lord commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from (AL)Geba[f] as far as (AM)Gezer.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 5:9 Lit. The Landfill
  2. 2 Samuel 5:14 Shimea, 1 Chr. 3:5
  3. 2 Samuel 5:15 Elishama, 1 Chr. 3:6
  4. 2 Samuel 5:20 Lit. Master of Breakthroughs
  5. 2 Samuel 5:21 idols
  6. 2 Samuel 5:25 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX Gibeon