2 Samuel 5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
David Anointed King of All Israel
5 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Look, we are your bone and flesh.(A) 2 For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you, ‘It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.’ ”(B) 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.(C) 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.(D) 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.(E)
Jerusalem Made Capital of the United Kingdom
6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here; even the blind and the lame will turn you back,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.”(F) 7 Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, which is now the city of David. 8 David had said on that day, “Whoever would strike down the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack the lame and the blind, those whom David hates.”[a] Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”(G) 9 David occupied the stronghold and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inward.(H) 10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts[b] was with him.(I)
11 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar trees and carpenters and masons who built David a house.(J) 12 David then 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 In Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives, and more sons and daughters were born to David.(K) 14 These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,(L) 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
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 about it and went down to the stronghold.(M) 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the valley of Rephaim.(N) 19 David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” The Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.”(O) 20 So David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. He said, “The Lord has burst forth against my enemies before me like a bursting flood.” Therefore that place is called Baal-perazim.[c](P) 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.(Q)
22 Once again the Philistines came up and were spread out in the valley of Rephaim.(R) 23 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.(S) 24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then be on the alert, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”(T) 25 David did just as the Lord had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Geba all the way to Gezer.(U)
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.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible