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2 Samuel 5
New English Translation

David Is Anointed King Over Israel

5 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron saying, “Look, we are your very flesh and blood![a] 2 In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the real leader in Israel.[b] The Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over Israel.’”

3 When all the leaders[c] of Israel came to the king at Hebron, King David made an agreement with them[d] in Hebron before the Lord. They designated[e] David as king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign and he reigned for forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

David Occupies Jerusalem

6 Then the king and his men advanced to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who lived in the land. The Jebusites[f] said to David, “You cannot invade this place! Even the blind and the lame will turn you back, saying, ‘David cannot invade this place!’”

7 But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). 8 David said on that day, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must approach the ‘lame’ and the ‘blind’ who are David’s enemies[g] by going through the water tunnel.”[h] For this reason it is said, “The blind and the lame cannot enter the palace.”[i]

9 So David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. David built all around it, from the terrace inwards. 10 David’s power grew steadily, for the Lord God[j] of Heaven’s Armies[k] was with him.[l]

11 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a palace[m] for David. 12 David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 13 David married more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he arrived from Hebron. Even more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

Conflict with the Philistines

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been designated[n] king over Israel, they all[o] went up to search for David. When David heard about it, he went down to the fortress. 18 Now the Philistines had arrived and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 19 So David asked the Lord, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to David, “March up, for I will indeed[p] hand the Philistines over to you.”

20 So David marched against Baal Perazim and defeated them there. Then he said, “The Lord has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.” So he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.[q] 21 The Philistines[r] abandoned their idols[s] there, and David and his men picked them up.

22 The Philistines again came up and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 23 So David asked the Lord what he should do.[t] This time[u] the Lord[v] said to him, “Don’t march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees.[w] 24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at that moment the Lord is going before you to strike down the army[x] of the Philistines.” 25 David did just as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.[y]

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 5:1 tn Heb “look we are your bone and your flesh.”
  2. 2 Samuel 5:2 tn Heb “you were the one leading out and the one leading in Israel.”
  3. 2 Samuel 5:3 tn Heb “elders.”
  4. 2 Samuel 5:3 tn Heb “and the king, David, cut for them a covenant.”
  5. 2 Samuel 5:3 tn Heb “anointed.”
  6. 2 Samuel 5:6 tn The Hebrew text has “he” rather than “the Jebusites.” The referent has been specified in the translation for clarity. In the Syriac Peshitta and some mss of the Targum the verb is plural rather than singular.
  7. 2 Samuel 5:8 tc There is some confusion among the witnesses concerning this word. The Kethib is the Qal perfect third common plural שָׂנְאוּ (saneʾu, “they hated”), referring to the Jebusites’ attitude toward David. The Qere is the Qal passive participle construct plural שְׂנֻאֵי (senuʾe, “hated”), referring to David’s attitude toward the Jebusites. 4QSama has the Qal perfect third person feminine singular שָׂנְאָה (saneʾah, “hated”), the subject of which would be “the soul of David.” The difference is minor and the translation adopted above works for either the Kethib or the Qere.
  8. 2 Samuel 5:8 tn The meaning of the Hebrew term has been debated. For a survey of various views, see P. K. McCarter, II Samuel (AB), 139-40. sn If a water tunnel is in view here, it is probably the so-called Warren’s Shaft that extends up from Hezekiah’s tunnel. It would have provided a means for surprise attack against the occupants of the City of David. The LXX seems not to understand the reference here, translating “by the water shaft” as “with a small knife.”
  9. 2 Samuel 5:8 tn Heb “the house.” TEV takes this as a reference to the temple (“the Lord’s house”).
  10. 2 Samuel 5:10 tc 4QSama and the LXX lack the word “God,” probably due to harmonization with the more common biblical phrase “the Lord of hosts.”
  11. 2 Samuel 5:10 tn Traditionally, “the Lord God of hosts” (KJV, NASB); NIV, NLT “the Lord God Almighty”; CEV “the Lord (+ God NCV) All-Powerful.”
  12. 2 Samuel 5:10 tn The translation assumes that the disjunctive clause is circumstantial-causal, giving the reason for David’s success.
  13. 2 Samuel 5:11 tn Heb “a house.”
  14. 2 Samuel 5:17 tn Heb “anointed.”
  15. 2 Samuel 5:17 tn Heb “all the Philistines.”
  16. 2 Samuel 5:19 tn The infinitive absolute lends emphasis to the following verb.
  17. 2 Samuel 5:20 tn The name means “Lord of the outbursts.”
  18. 2 Samuel 5:21 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Philistines) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  19. 2 Samuel 5:21 tc For “idols” the LXX and Vulgate have “gods.”
  20. 2 Samuel 5:23 tn The words “what to do” are not in the Hebrew text.
  21. 2 Samuel 5:23 tn The words “this time” are not in the Hebrew text.
  22. 2 Samuel 5:23 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  23. 2 Samuel 5:23 tn Some translate as “balsam trees” (cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV, NJB, NLT); cf. KJV, NKJV, ASV “mulberry trees”; NAB “mastic trees”; NEB, REB “aspens.” The exact identification of the type of tree or plant is uncertain.
  24. 2 Samuel 5:24 tn Heb “camp” (so NAB).
  25. 2 Samuel 5:25 tn Heb “from Gibeon until you enter Gezer.”
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2 Samuel 5
Lexham English Bible

David Anointed as King over All of Israel

5 So all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and they said, “Here we are, we are your flesh and blood.[a] 2 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.’” 3 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. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign; he reigned forty years. 5 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

6 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.’” 7 David captured the fortress of Zion, the city of David. 8 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.” 9 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”
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