2 Samuel 5
New American Standard Bible
David King over All Israel
5 (A)Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and [a]said, “Behold, we are (B)your bone and your flesh. 2 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.’” 3 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. 4 David was (H)thirty years old when he became king, and (I)he reigned for forty years. 5 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.
6 (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.” 7 Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is, (M)the city of David. 8 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.” 9 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
- 2 Samuel 5:1 Lit said, saying
- 2 Samuel 5:2 I.e., to battle and in (returning) from battle
- 2 Samuel 5:6 Lit David, saying
- 2 Samuel 5:6 Lit saying
- 2 Samuel 5:9 I.e., terraced structure
- 2 Samuel 5:11 Lit stone wall craftsmen
- 2 Samuel 5:20 Lit David struck
- 2 Samuel 5:20 I.e., the master of breakthroughs
- 2 Samuel 5:24 Or pay attention
- 2 Samuel 5:25 In 1 Chr 14:16, Gibeon
- 2 Samuel 5:25 Lit until you come to
2 Samuel 5
Revised Standard Version
David Anointed King of All Israel
5 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you that led out and brought in Israel; and the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
Jerusalem Made Capital of the United Kingdom
6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jeb′usites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 8 And David said on that day, “Whoever would smite the Jeb′usites, let him get up the water shaft to attack the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” 9 And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built the city round about from the Millo inward. 10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.
11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house. 12 And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
13 And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Sham′mu-a, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Eli′shu-a, Nepheg, Japhi′a, 16 Elish′ama, Eli′ada, and Eliph′elet.
Philistine Attack Repulsed
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; but David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the valley of Reph′aim. 19 And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Wilt thou give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up; for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 20 And David came to Ba′al-pera′zim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The Lord has broken through[a] my enemies before me, like a bursting flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Ba′al-pera′zim.[b] 21 And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.
22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread out in the valley of Reph′aim. 23 And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come upon them opposite the balsam trees. 24 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then bestir yourself; for then the Lord has gone out before you to smite the army of the Philistines.” 25 And David did as the Lord commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 5:20 Heb paraz
- 2 Samuel 5:20 That is Lord of breaking through
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.