2 Samuel 5:17-25

GOD’S WORD Translation

David Defeats the Philistines^(A)

¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, all of them came to attack David. But David heard about it and went to the fortress. ¹⁸ The Philistines had come and overrun the valley of Rephaim.

¹⁹ David asked the Lord, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

The Lord answered David, “Attack! I will certainly hand the Philistines over to you.”

²⁰ So David went to Baal Perazim and defeated the Philistines there. He said, “The Lord has overwhelmed my enemies in front of me like an overwhelming flood.” That is why that place is called Baal Perazim [The Lord Overwhelms]. ²¹ The Philistines left their idols there, so David and his men carried the idols away.

²² The Philistines again attacked and overran the valley of Rephaim. ²³ David asked the Lord, and he answered, “Don’t attack now, but circle around behind them, and come at them in front of the balsam trees. ²⁴ When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, act immediately because the Lord has gone ahead of you to defeat the Philistine army.” ²⁵ David did as the Lord ordered him and defeated the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.