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The Capture and Growth of Jerusalem

The king and his men went to Jerusalem, to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. They said to David, “You will not come here, for even the blind and the lame can turn you back, saying, ‘David cannot come here.’” David captured the fortress of Zion, the city of David. David had said, “On that day when we attack the Jebusites,[a] one must attack the lame and the blind, those who hate the soul of David, by means of the water supply.” For thus the blind and the lame would say, “He cannot come into the house.” David occupied the fortress and called it the city of David. And David built all around it from the Millo and inward.[b]

10 David continued growing stronger and stronger,[c] and Yahweh the God of hosts was with him. 11 So Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, along with cedar trees and craftsmen skilled in wood and in stone masonry,[d] and they built a house for David. 12 David realized that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom because of his people Israel. 13 David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 These are the names of the ones born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua and Shobab and Nathan and Solomon; 15 Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia; 16 Elishama and Eliada and Eliphelet.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 5:8 Literally “in all of the striking down the Jebusites”
  2. 2 Samuel 5:9 Literally “to the house”
  3. 2 Samuel 5:10 Literally “went going and great”
  4. 2 Samuel 5:11 Literally “skilled craftsmen of wood and skilled craftsmen of stone wall”

The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites(A) who inhabited the land. The Jebusites had said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you”; thinking, “David can’t get in here.”

Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.(B) He said that day, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must go through the water shaft to reach the lame and the blind who are despised by David.”[a] For this reason it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the house.”[b]

David took up residence in the stronghold, which he named the city of David. He built it up all the way around from the supporting terraces inward. 10 David became more and more powerful,(C) and the Lord God of Hosts was with him.(D) 11 King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David; he also sent cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons,(E) and they built a palace for David. 12 Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

13 After he arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 These are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan,(F) Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 5:8 Alt Hb tradition, LXX, Tg, Syr read who despise David
  2. 2 Samuel 5:8 Or temple, or palace