2 Samuel 5:1-16

Holman Christian Standard Bible

David, King of Israel

5 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron^(A) and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.^{[a](B) 2} Even while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led us out to battle and brought us back.^(C) The Lord also said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over Israel.’”

³ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. King David made a covenant with them^(D) at Hebron in the Lord’s presence, and they anointed David king over Israel.

⁴ David was 30 years old when he began his reign;^(E) he reigned 40 years. ⁵ In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned 33 years over all Israel and Judah.

⁶ The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites^(F) who inhabited the land. The Jebusites had said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you”; thinking, “David can’t get in here.”

⁷ Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.^{(G) 8} He said that day, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must go through the water shaft to reach the lame and the blind who are despised by David.”^[b] For this reason it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the house.”^[c]

⁹ David took up residence in the stronghold, which he named the city of David. He built it up all the way around from the supporting terraces inward. ¹⁰ David became more and more powerful,^(H) and the Lord God of Hosts was with him.^{(I) 11} King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David; he also sent cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons,^(J) and they built a palace for David. ¹² Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

¹³ After he arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. ¹⁴ These are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan,^(K) Solomon, ¹⁵ Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, ¹⁶ Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.^(L)