2 Samuel 5

1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said, Truly, we are your bone and your flesh.

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and told him, “We are your flesh and blood.

2 In the past when Saul was king over us, it was you who went at the head of Israel when they went out or came in: and the Lord said to you, You are to be the keeper of my people Israel and their ruler.

Previously when Saul was our king, you were the one who led the Israelite army into battle. The Lord told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be their ruler.’”

3 So all the responsible men of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they put the holy oil on David and made him king over Israel.

All the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made an agreement with them in the Lord's presence. Then they anointed him king of Israel.

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

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

5 Ruling over Judah in Hebron for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem, over all Israel and Judah, for thirty-three years.

He reigned over Judah seven years and six months from Hebron, and he reigned over all of Israel and Judah for thirty-three years from Jerusalem.

6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the people of the land: and they said to David, You will not come in here, but the blind and the feeble-footed will keep you out; for they said, David will not be able to come in here.

David the king and his men went to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites who were living there. The Jebusites told David: “You'll never enter here. Even the blind and lame could stop you.” They were convinced that David could not get in.

7 But David took the strong place of Zion, which is the town of David.

But David did capture the fortress of Zion, now known as the City of David.

8 And that day David said, Whoever makes an attack on the Jebusites, let him go up by the water-pipe, and put to death all the blind and feeble-footed who are hated by David. And this is why they say, The blind and feeble-footed may not come into the house.

At that time he said, “If we are to successfully conquer the Jebusites we'll have to go up the water shaft to attack these ‘lame and blind’ —these people who hate David. This is why it's said, ‘The blind and the lame will never enter the house.’”

9 So David took the strong tower for his living-place, naming it the town of David. And David took in hand the building of the town all round, starting from the Millo.

David went and lived in the fortress, and named it the City of David. He extended it in all directions, starting from the outer supporting terraces and moving inwards.

10 And David became greater and greater; for the Lord, the God of armies, was with him.

David became increasingly powerful, for the Lord God Almighty was with him.

11 And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent men to David, with cedar-trees and woodworkers and stoneworkers: and they made David a house.

King Hiram of Tyre sent representatives to David, together with cedar timber, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.

12 And David saw that the Lord had made his position safe as king over Israel, and that he had made his kingdom great because of his people Israel.

David realized that the Lord had installed him as king of Israel, and had made his kingdom great for the sake of his people Israel.

13 And David took more women and wives in Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron: and he had more sons and daughters.

After he moved from Hebron, David added more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and he had more sons and daughters.

14 These are the names of those whose birth took place in Jerusalem: Shammua and Shobab and Nathan and Solomon

These are the names of his children born in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

15 And Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia

Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

16 And Elishama and Eliada and Eliphelet.

Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

17 And when the Philistines had news that David had been made king over Israel, they all went up in search of David; and David, hearing of it, went down to the strong place.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, the whole Philistine army came out to capture him, but David found out and went inside the stronghold.

18 And when the Philistines came, they went in every direction in the valley of Rephaim.

The Philistines came and spread out across the Valley of Rephaim.

19 And David, desiring directions from the Lord, said, Am I to go up against the Philistines? will you give them up into my hands? And the Lord said, Go up, for I will certainly give up the Philistines into your hands.

David asked the Lord “Should I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” “Yes, go,” the Lord replied, “for I will definitely hand them over to you.”

20 And David went to Baal-perazim, and overcame them there; and he said, The Lord has let the forces fighting against me be broken before me as a wall is broken by rushing waters. So that place was named Baal-perazim.

David went to Baal-perazim and he defeated the Philistines there. “Like a flood that bursts out, so the Lord has burst out against my enemies right before me,” David declared. So he named that place Baal-perazim.

21 And the Philistines, when they went in flight, did not take their images with them, and David and his men took them away.

The Philistines left their idols behind, and David and his men removed them.

22 And the Philistines came up again, and went in every direction in the valley of Rephaim.

A while later the Philistines came again and spread out across the Valley of Rephaim.

23 And when David went for directions to the Lord, he said, You are not to go up against them in front; but make a circle round them from the back and come on them opposite the spice-trees.

David asked the Lord what to do. The Lord replied, “Don't attack them directly, but go round behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.

24 Then at the sound of footsteps in the tops of the trees, go forward quickly, for the Lord has gone out before you to overcome the army of the Philistines.

Immediately you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees be ready, because this means the Lord has marched out before you to attack the Philistine camp.”

25 And David did as the Lord had said; and he overcame the Philistines, attacking them from Gibeon to near Gezer.

David followed the Lord's orders, and he slaughtered the Philistines from Geba all the way to Gezer.