2 Samuel

David Anointed King of All Israel

1Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.

2Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”

3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel.

4David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.

5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

David Conquers Jerusalem

6Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.”

7Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David).

8On that day he said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must use the water shaft to reach the lame and blind who are despised by David.” That is why it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the palace.”

9So David took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built it up all the way around, from the supporting terracesinward.

10And David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of Hosts was with him.

11Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.

David’s Family Grows

12And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

13After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and 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.

Two Victories over the Philistines

17When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.

18Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

19So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go up,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

20So David went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.” So he called that place Baal-perazim.

21There the Philistines abandoned their idols, and David and his men carried them away.

22Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

23So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.

24As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

25So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeonto Gezer.

1And all the tribes of Israel come unto David, to Hebron, and speak, saying, 'Lo, we [are] thy bone and thy flesh;

2also heretofore, in Saul's being king over us, thou hast been he who is bringing out and bringing in Israel, and Jehovah saith to thee, Thou dost feed My people Israel, and thou art for leader over Israel.'

3And all the elders of Israel come unto the king, to Hebron, and king David maketh with them a covenant in Hebron before Jehovah, and they anoint David for king over Israel.

4A son of thirty years [is] David in his being king; forty years he hath reigned;

5in Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years, over all Israel and Judah.

6And the king goeth, and his men, to Jerusalem, unto the Jebusite, the inhabitant of the land, and they speak to David, saying, 'Thou dost not come in hither, except thou turn aside the blind and the lame;' saying, 'David doth not come in hither.'

7And David captureth the fortress of Zion, it [is] the city of David.

8And David saith on that day, 'Any one smiting the Jebusite, (let him go up by the watercourse), and the lame and the blind — the hated of David's soul,' — because the blind and lame say, 'He doth not come into the house.'

9And David dwelleth in the fortress, and calleth it — City of David, and David buildeth round about, from Millo and inward,

10and David goeth, going on and becoming great, and Jehovah, God of Hosts, [is] with him.

11And Hiram king of Tyre sendeth messengers unto David, and cedar-trees, and artificers of wood, and artificers of stone, for walls, and they build a house for David,

12and David knoweth that Jehovah hath established him for king over Israel, and that He hath lifted up his kingdom, because of His people Israel.

13And David taketh again concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after his coming from Hebron, and there are born again to David sons and daughters.

14And these [are] the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

15and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

16and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

17And the Philistines hear that they have anointed David for king over Israel, and all the Philistines come up to seek David, and David heareth, and goeth down unto the fortress,

18and the Philistines have come, and are spread out in the valley of Rephaim.

19And David asketh of Jehovah, saying, 'Do I go up unto the Philistines? dost Thou give them into my hand?' And Jehovah saith unto David, 'Go up, for I certainly give the Philistines into thy hand.'

20And David cometh in to Baal-Perazim, and David smiteth them there, and saith, 'Jehovah hath broken forth [on] mine enemies before me, as the breaking forth of waters;' therefore he hath called the name of that place Baal-Perazim.

21And they forsake there their idols, and David and his men lift them up.

22And the Philistines add again to come up, and are spread out in the valley of Rephaim,

23and David asketh of Jehovah, and He saith, 'Thou dost not go up, turn round unto their rear, and thou hast come to them over-against the mulberries,

24and it cometh to pass, in thy hearing the sound of a stepping in the tops of the mulberries, then thou dost move sharply, for then hath Jehovah gone out before thee to smite in the camp of the Philistines.'

25And David doth so, as Jehovah commanded him, and smiteth the Philistines from Geba unto thy coming to Gazer.