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David Anointed King of All Israel

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, ‘Look, we are your bone and flesh. 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.’ 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. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for forty years. At Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.

Jerusalem Made Capital of the Combined Kingdom

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.’ Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, which is now the city of David. David had said on that day, ‘Whoever wishes to 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.’ David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inwards. 10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.

11 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar trees, and carpenters and masons who built David a house. 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. 14 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.

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. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 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.’ 20 So David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. He said, ‘The Lord has burst forth against[b] my enemies before me, like a bursting flood.’ Therefore that place is called Baal-perazim.[c] 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.

22 Once again the Philistines came up, and were spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 23 When David inquired of the Lord, he said, ‘You shall not go up; go round to their rear, and come upon them opposite the balsam trees. 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.’ 25 David did just as the Lord had commanded him; and he struck down the Philistines from Geba all the way to Gezer.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 5:8 Another reading is those who hate David
  2. 2 Samuel 5:20 Heb paraz
  3. 2 Samuel 5:20 That is Lord of Bursting Forth

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

And all the lineages of Israel came to David, in Hebron, and said, Lo! we be thy bone and thy flesh. (And all the tribes of Israel came to David, in Hebron, and said, Lo! we be thy flesh and blood.)

But also yesterday and the third day ago, when Saul was king upon us, thou leddest out, and leddest again Israel; forsooth the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be duke upon Israel. (And yesterday and the third day ago, when Saul was king upon us, thou leddest out the people Israel, and leddest them in again; and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be the leader of Israel.)

Also and the elder men of Israel came to the king, into Hebron; and king David smote with them (a) bond of peace in Hebron, before the Lord; and they anointed David into king upon Israel. (And the elders of Israel came to the king in Hebron; and King David struck a covenant with them in Hebron, before the Lord; and they anointed David king upon Israel.)

David was a son of thirty years, when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years(.)

in Hebron; he reigned upon Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years upon all Israel and Judah. (In Hebron, he reigned seven years and six months upon Judah; and in Jerusalem, he reigned thirty-three years upon all Israel and Judah.)

And the king went, and all [the] men that were with him, into Jerusalem, to Jebusites, the dweller(s) of the land. And it was said of them to David, Thou shalt not enter hither, no but thou do away blind men and lame, saying, David shall not enter hither. (And the king, and all the men who were with him, went to Jerusalem, unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. And they said to David, Thou shalt not come in here until thou do away all the blind and the crippled, that is to say, Thou, David, shalt never come in here.)

Forsooth David took the tower of Zion; this is the city of David. (But David captured the stronghold, or the fortress, of Zion; this is known as the City of David.)

For David had purposed in that day to have given meed to him, that had smitten Jebusites, and that had touched the gutters of the house roofs, and that had taken away lame men and blind, hating the life of David. Therefore it is said in common speech, A blind man and a lame shall not enter into the temple. (For David had put forth a reward that day, to anyone who struck down the Jebusites, yea, up to the gutters of the housetops, and who did away even the crippled and the blind, yea, any and all who hated the life of David. And so it is said in common speech, No one blind or crippled shall enter into the Temple.)

And David dwelled in the tower, and called it the city of David; and he builded by compass from Millo, and within. (And David lived in the stronghold, and called it the City of David; and he built all around from Millo, inwards.)

10 And he entered profiting, and increasing; and the Lord God of hosts was with him.

11 Also Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and craftsmen of wood, and craftsmen of stones to (make) walls; and they builded the house of David.

12 And David knew, that the Lord had confirmed him king upon Israel, and that he had enhanced his realm upon his people Israel (and that he had raised up his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel).

13 Therefore David took yet (more) concubines, and wives of (the inhabitants of) Jerusalem, after that he came from Hebron; and also other sons and daughters were born to David.

14 And these be the names of them that were born to him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

15 and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

16 and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

17 Then the Philistines heard, that they had anointed David king upon Israel, and all the Philistines went up to seek David. And when David had heard this, he went down into a stronghold.

18 And the Philistines came, and they were spread abroad in the valley of Rephaim. (And the Philistines came, and they were spread all over the Rephaim Valley.)

19 And David counselled with the Lord, and said, Whether I shall go up to Philistines, and whether thou shalt give them in mine hand? And the Lord said to David, Go thou up, for I shall betake the Philistines, and I shall give them in thine hand. (And David counselled with the Lord, and said, Shall I go up to the Philistines? and shalt thou give them into my hands? And the Lord said to David, Go thou up, for I shall deliver the Philistines into thy hands.)

20 Therefore David came into Baalperazim, and smote them there (and he struck them there), and said, The Lord hath parted mine enemies before me, as waters be parted. Therefore the name of that place was called Baalperazim, that is, The Field, either Plain, of Parting.

21 And they left there their sculptures, (or their images,) which David burnt, and his men. (And they left their idols there, which David and his men burned to ashes.)

22 And [the] Philistines added yet, that they should ascend, and they were spread abroad in the valley of Rephaim. (And the Philistines attacked again, and they were spread all over the Rephaim Valley.)

23 And David counselled with the Lord, and said, Whether I shall go up against the Philistines, and whether thou shalt betake them into mine hands? (And David counselled with the Lord, and said, Shall I go up against the Philistines, and shalt thou deliver them into my hands?) And the Lord answered, Thou shalt not go up against them, but compass thou them behind their back, and (then) thou shalt come to them on the contrary side of the pear trees.

24 And when thou shalt hear the sound of (a) cry going in the top(s) of (the) pear trees, then thou shalt begin (the) battle; for then the Lord shall go out before thy face, that he smite the tents of Philistines (for then the Lord shall go out before thee, and strike down the host, or the army, of the Philistines).

25 Therefore David did as the Lord commanded to him; and he smote the Philistines from Geba till they came to Gazer.