David Defeats the Philistines^(A)

¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.^{(B) 18} Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;^(C)

¹³ During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam,^(A) while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.^{(B) 14} At that time David was in the stronghold,^(C) and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.^{(D) 15} David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” ¹⁶ So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured^(E) it out before the Lord. ¹⁷ “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood^(F) of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.

Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.

¹⁰ so David inquired of God: “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, I will deliver them into your hands.”

¹¹ So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim,^(A) and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.^{[a] 12} The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn^(B) them in the fire.^(C)

¹³ Once more the Philistines raided the valley;^{(D) 14} so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, “Do not go directly after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. ¹⁵ As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” ¹⁶ So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon^(E) to Gezer.^(F)

¹⁷ So David’s fame^(G) spread throughout every land, and the Lord made all the nations fear^(H) him.

David Conquers Jerusalem^(A)(B)

⁶ The king and his men marched to Jerusalem^(C) to attack the Jebusites,^(D) who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” ⁷ Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion^(E)—which is the City of David.^(F)

⁸ On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft^(G) to reach those ‘lame and blind’^(H) who are David’s enemies.^[a]” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”

⁶ David had said, “Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will become commander in chief.” Joab^(A) son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he received the command.

⁷ David then took up residence in the fortress, and so it was called the City of David. ⁸ He built up the city around it, from the terraces^[a](B) to the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city. ⁹ And David became more and more powerful,^(C) because the Lord Almighty was with him.

David’s House and Family^(A)

14 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs,^(B) stonemasons and carpenters to build a palace for him. ² And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted^(C) for the sake of his people Israel.

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem^(A)

15 After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared^(B) a place for the ark of God and pitched^(C) a tent for it.

Bringing Back the Ark^(A)

13 David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. ² He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our people throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us. ³ Let us bring the ark of our God back to us,^(B) for we did not inquire^(C) of^[a] it^[b] during the reign of Saul.” ⁴ The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.

⁵ So David assembled all Israel,^(A) from the Shihor River^(B) in Egypt to Lebo Hamath,^(C) to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim.^(D)