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David Conquers Jerusalem

David and the whole Israelite army[a] advanced to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus).[b] (The Jebusites, the land’s original inhabitants, lived there.)[c] The residents of Jebus said to David, “You cannot invade this place!” But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). [d] David said, “Whoever attacks[e] the Jebusites first will become commanding general!”[f] So Joab son of Zeruiah attacked[g] first and became commander.[h] David lived in the fortress; for this reason it is called the City of David. He built up the city around it, from the terrace to the surrounding walls;[i] Joab restored the rest of the city. David’s power steadily grew, for the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was with him.[j]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 11:4 tn Heb “all Israel.”
  2. 1 Chronicles 11:4 sn Jebus was an older name for the city of Jerusalem (cf. Josh 15:8; Judg 1:21).
  3. 1 Chronicles 11:4 tn Heb “and there [were] the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land.”
  4. 1 Chronicles 11:6 sn Verse 6 inserts into the narrative parenthetical information about Joab’s role in the conquest of the city. Verse 7 then picks up where v. 5 left off.
  5. 1 Chronicles 11:6 tn Or perhaps “strikes down.”
  6. 1 Chronicles 11:6 tn Heb “head and officer.”
  7. 1 Chronicles 11:6 tn Heb “went up.”
  8. 1 Chronicles 11:6 tn Heb “head.”
  9. 1 Chronicles 11:8 tn Heb “to that which surrounds.” On the referent here as “the surrounding walls,” see HALOT 740 s.v. סָבִיב.
  10. 1 Chronicles 11:9 tn Heb “and David went, going and becoming great, and the Lord of Heaven’s Armies [traditionally, Lord of hosts] was with him.”

David captures Jerusalem

Then David and all Israel marched to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the Jebusites lived. The people who lived in Jebus told David, “You’ll never get in here!”

But David captured the mountain fortress of Zion, which became David’s City. David had said, “The first one to kill a Jebusite will become commander in chief!” Joab, Zeruiah’s son, was the first to attack and so became commander in chief. David occupied the fortress, so it was renamed David’s City. He also built up the city on all sides, including its own foundations and the surrounding areas, while Joab restored the rest of the city. David grew increasingly powerful, and the Lord of heavenly forces was with him.

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