2 Samuel 5:6-16

Living Bible

⁶ David now led his troops to Jerusalem to fight against the Jebusites who lived there.

“You’ll never come in here,” they told him. “Even the blind and lame could keep you out!” For they thought they were safe. ⁷ But David and his troops defeated them and captured the stronghold of Zion, now called the City of David.

⁸ When the insulting message from the defenders of the city reached David, he told his troops, “Go up through the water tunnel into the city and destroy those ‘lame’ and ‘blind’ Jebusites. How I hate them.” (That is the origin of the saying, “Even the blind and the lame could conquer you!”)

⁹ So David made the stronghold of Zion (also called the City of David) his headquarters. Then, beginning at the old Millo section of the city, he built northward toward the present city center. ¹⁰ So David became greater and greater, for the Lord God of heaven was with him.

¹¹ Then King Hiram of Tyre sent cedar lumber, carpenters, and masons to build a palace for David. ¹² David now realized why the Lord had made him the king and blessed his kingdom so greatly—it was because God wanted to pour out his kindness on Israel, his chosen people.

¹³ After moving from Hebron to Jerusalem, David married additional wives and concubines, and had many sons and daughters. ^14-16 These are his children who were born at Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, Eliphelet.