2 SamuelChapter 5

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¹Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. They said, "Look, we are your own flesh and blood. ²In the past, while Saul was our king, you were the one who led Israel out to battle and brought them back. And the LORD said to you, 'You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be their ruler.'" ³So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. There King David made a covenant with them before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel. ⁴David was 30 years old when he became king. He ruled for 40 years. ⁵In Hebron he ruled over Judah for seven years and six months. In Jerusalem he ruled over all Israel and Judah for 33 years. ⁶The king and his men marched to Jerusalem. They went to fight the Jebusites who lived in the land. The Jebusites said to David, "You will never get in here. Even the blind and the lame can push you back." They thought, "David can't get in here." ⁷But David captured the fortress of Zion. It is now called the City of David. ⁸That day David said, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites must go up through the water tunnel. Then he can reach those 'lame and blind' people that David hates." That is why people say, "The blind and the lame will never come into the palace." ⁹So David lived in the fortress. He named it the City of David. He built up the city all around it, from the terraces inward.a ¹⁰David became more and more powerful, because the LORD God of Hosts was with him. ¹¹Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David. He also sent cedar logs, carpenters, and stoneworkers. They built a palace for David. ¹²Then David knew that the LORD had made him king over Israel to stay. He knew the LORD had made his kingdom great for the good of his people Israel. ¹³After David came from Hebron, he took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem. More sons and daughters were born to him. ¹⁴These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, ¹⁵Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, ¹⁶Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. ¹⁷The Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel. So they all went out to hunt for him. But David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. ¹⁸The Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁹So David asked the LORD, "Should I go up and fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" The LORD answered, "Go up. I will surely hand the Philistines over to you." ²⁰So David went to Baal-perazim. There he beat the Philistines. He said, "The LORD has broken out against my enemies in front of me. He did it like a flood of water breaking through." So he named that place Baal-perazim.b ²¹The Philistines left their idols there. David and his men carried them away. ²²Once more the Philistines came up. They spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. ²³So David asked the LORD what to do. The LORD answered, "Don't march straight up. Circle around behind them. Attack them in front of the balsam trees. ²⁴Listen for the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear it, move quickly. It will mean that the LORD has gone out ahead of you to strike the Philistine army." ²⁵So David did what the LORD told him. He struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.