David Anointed King of Israel

Then all the tribes of Israel (A)came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, (B)we are your bone and flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, (C)it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, (D)‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince[a] over Israel.’” So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, (E)and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron (F)before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and (G)he reigned forty years. (H)At Hebron he reigned over Judah (I)seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.[b]

(J)And the king and his men went to Jerusalem (K)against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, (L)that is, the city of David. And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David's soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” And David lived in the stronghold and called it (M)the city of David. And David built the city all around from the (N)Millo inward. 10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.

11 (O)And (P)Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house. 12 And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

13 And David took more (Q)concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 5:2 Or leader
  2. 2 Samuel 5:5 Dead Sea Scroll lacks verses 4–5

Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians (A)became servants to David and brought tribute. (B)And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. And David took (C)the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze.

When Toi king of (D)Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, 10 Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. And Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold, and of bronze. 11 (E)These also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued, 12 from Edom, (F)Moab, (G)the Ammonites, (H)the Philistines, (I)Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of (J)Zobah.

13 And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in (K)the Valley of Salt. 14 Then he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, (L)and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

David's Officials

15 So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people. 16 (M)Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and (N)Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, 17 and (O)Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and (P)Seraiah was secretary, 18 and (Q)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over[a] the (R)Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David's sons were priests.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 8:18 Compare 20:23, 1 Chronicles 18:17, Syriac, Targum, Vulgate; Hebrew lacks was over

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