2 Samuel 5

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

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

2 Even 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.’”

Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou, wast he that led out and brought in, Israel, —and Yahweh said to thee—Thou, shalt be shepherd unto my people, Israel, and, thou, shalt become leader over Israel.

3 So 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.

So all the elders of Israel came unto the king, in Hebron, and King David solemnised to them a covenant in Hebron, before Yahweh, —and they anointed David to be king over Israel.

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

Thirty years old, was David when he began to reign, —forty years, he reigned:

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

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

6 Now 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.”

Then went the king and his men, to Jerusalem, against the Jebusites, inhabiting the land, —and they spake to David, saying—Thou canst not come in hither, unless thou take away the blind and lame—Thinking, David will not come in hither.

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

So then David captured the citadel of Zion, —the same, is the city of David.

8 On 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.”

And David said, on that day—Whosoever is smiting the Jebusites, then let him reach as far as the aqueduct. But, as for the lame and the blind, they were the hated of David’s soul, —for which cause, they kept on saying, Blind and lame! he will not enter the place.

9 So 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 terraces inward.

So then David dwelt in the citadel, and called it, The City of David, —and David built round about, from Millo and inwards.

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

And David went on and on waxing great, —Yahweh, God of hosts, being with him.

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

Then Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers unto David, with cedar-wood, and carpenters, and masons, and they built a house for David.

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

So David perceived that Yahweh had established him to be king over Israel, —and that he had exalted his kingdom, for the sake of his people Israel.

13 After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

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

14 These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

Now, these, are the names of the sons who were born unto him in Jerusalem, —Shammua and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon;

15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

and Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Yaphia;

16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

and Elishama and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

17 When 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.

And, when the Philistine heard that they had anointed David to be king over Israel, then came up all the Philistines to seek to secure David, and David heard of it, and went down into the citadel.

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

Now, the Philistines, had come, —and had spread themselves out in the vale of Rephaim.

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

So then David enquired of Yahweh, saying, —Shall I go up against the Philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And Yahweh said unto David—Go up; for I, will surely deliver, the Philistines into thy hand.

20 So 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.

And David entered Baal-perazim, and David smote them there, and said—Yahweh hath broken forth upon mine enemies, before me, like a breaking forth of waters. For this cause, called he the name of that place, Baal-perazim.

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

And they left their images there, —and David and his men took them away.

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

And, yet again, did the Philistines come up, —and they spread themselves out in the vale of Rephaim.

23 So 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.

So David enquired of Yahweh, and he said—Thou shalt not go up, —Get round behind them, and come in upon them, over against the mulberry-trees.

24 As 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 marched out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, then, shalt thou act with decision, —for, then, will Yahweh have gone forth before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

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

And David did so, as Yahweh had commanded him, —and smote the Philistines, from Gibeon until thou enterest Gezer.