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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- 5:23 Or aspen, or balsam; also in 5:24. The exact identification of this tree is uncertain.
- 5:25 As in Greek version (see also 1 Chr 14:16); Hebrew reads Geba.
2 Samuel 5:17-25
Legacy Standard Bible
David Goes Up Against the Philistines
17 Then the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, so (A)all the Philistines went up to seek out David. And David heard of it and went down to the (B)fortress. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves out in (C)the valley of Rephaim. 19 Then (D)David asked of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?” And (E)Yahweh said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 20 So David came to (F)Baal-perazim, and there David struck them down; and he said, “Yahweh has broken through my enemies before me, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore he named that place [a]Baal-perazim. 21 And they forsook their idols there; so (G)David and his men carried them away.
22 Then (H)the Philistines yet again came up and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim. 23 So (I)David asked of Yahweh, and He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the [b]balsam trees. 24 And it will be that when (J)you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the [c]balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then (K)Yahweh will have gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 25 Then David did so, just as Yahweh had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from [d](L)Geba [e]as far as (M)Gezer.
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- 2 Samuel 5:20 Lit the master of breakthrough
- 2 Samuel 5:23 Or baka-shrubs
- 2 Samuel 5:24 Or baka-shrubs
- 2 Samuel 5:25 In 1 Chr 14:16, Gibeon
- 2 Samuel 5:25 Lit until you are coming to
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