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2 Samuel 5:17-25
New English Translation

Conflict with the Philistines

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been designated[a] king over Israel, they all[b] went up to search for David. When David heard about it, he went down to the fortress. 18 Now the Philistines had arrived and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 19 So David asked the Lord, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to David, “March up, for I will indeed[c] hand the Philistines over to you.”

20 So David marched against Baal Perazim and defeated them there. Then he said, “The Lord has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.” So he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.[d] 21 The Philistines[e] abandoned their idols[f] there, and David and his men picked them up.

22 The Philistines again came up and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 23 So David asked the Lord what he should do.[g] This time[h] the Lord[i] said to him, “Don’t march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees.[j] 24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at that moment the Lord is going before you to strike down the army[k] of the Philistines.” 25 David did just as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.[l]

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 5:17 tn Heb “anointed.”
  2. 2 Samuel 5:17 tn Heb “all the Philistines.”
  3. 2 Samuel 5:19 tn The infinitive absolute lends emphasis to the following verb.
  4. 2 Samuel 5:20 tn The name means “Lord of the outbursts.”
  5. 2 Samuel 5:21 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Philistines) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  6. 2 Samuel 5:21 tc For “idols” the LXX and Vulgate have “gods.”
  7. 2 Samuel 5:23 tn The words “what to do” are not in the Hebrew text.
  8. 2 Samuel 5:23 tn The words “this time” are not in the Hebrew text.
  9. 2 Samuel 5:23 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  10. 2 Samuel 5:23 tn Some translate as “balsam trees” (cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV, NJB, NLT); cf. KJV, NKJV, ASV “mulberry trees”; NAB “mastic trees”; NEB, REB “aspens.” The exact identification of the type of tree or plant is uncertain.
  11. 2 Samuel 5:24 tn Heb “camp” (so NAB).
  12. 2 Samuel 5:25 tn Heb “from Gibeon until you enter Gezer.”
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2 Samuel 5:17-25
New Living Translation

David Conquers the Philistines

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he went into the stronghold. 18 The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. 19 So David asked the Lord, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

The Lord replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”

20 So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “The Lord did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”). 21 The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so David and his men confiscated them.

22 But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. 23 And again David asked the Lord what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the Lord replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar[a] trees. 24 When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” 25 So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon[b] to Gezer.

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Footnotes

  1. 5:23 Or aspen, or balsam; also in 5:24. The exact identification of this tree is uncertain.
  2. 5:25 As in Greek version (see also 1 Chr 14:16); Hebrew reads Geba.
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New Living Translation (NLT)

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