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2 Samuel 5

All Israel comes to Hebron and makes David king over the whole nation. He captures Jerusalem and makes it his city, and beats back the Philistines twice.

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David king over all Israel

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler. When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

1

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, We are your own flesh and blood.

King James Version, 1611

Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

2

In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.

King James Version, 1611

Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

3

When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

King James Version, 1611

So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.

4

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.

King James Version, 1611

David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

5

In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

King James Version, 1611

In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

Jerusalem captured

The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off. They thought, David cannot get in here. Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, which is the City of David. On that day, David said, Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those lame and blind who are David's enemies. That is why they say, The blind and the lame will not enter the palace. David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces inward. And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him. Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

6

The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off. They thought, David cannot get in here.

King James Version, 1611

And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.

7

Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, which is the City of David.

King James Version, 1611

Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.

8

On that day, David said, Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those lame and blind who are David's enemies. That is why they say, The blind and the lame will not enter the palace.

King James Version, 1611

And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.

9

David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces inward.

King James Version, 1611

So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

10

And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.

King James Version, 1611

And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.

11

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.

King James Version, 1611

And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.

12

And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

King James Version, 1611

And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.

David's family in Jerusalem

After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

13

After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

King James Version, 1611

And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.

14

These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

King James Version, 1611

And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

15

Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

King James Version, 1611

Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

16

Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

King James Version, 1611

And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

Victory over the Philistines

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David enquired of the Lord, Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands? The Lord answered him, Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands. So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me. So that place was called Baal Perazim. The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off. Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim, so David enquired of the Lord, and he answered, Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army. So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

17

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.

King James Version, 1611

But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.

18

Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;

King James Version, 1611

The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

19

so David enquired of the Lord, Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands? The Lord answered him, Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.

King James Version, 1611

And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

20

So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me. So that place was called Baal Perazim.

King James Version, 1611

And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.

21

The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.

King James Version, 1611

And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.

22

Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim,

King James Version, 1611

And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

23

so David enquired of the Lord, and he answered, Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees.

King James Version, 1611

And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

24

As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.

King James Version, 1611

And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

25

So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

King James Version, 1611

And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.