2 Samuel 5

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

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

2 Moreover yesterday also and the day before, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that did lead out and bring in Israel: and the Lord said to thee: Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.

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 The ancients also 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 to be 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 began to reign, 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 Juda seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned three and thirty years over all Israel and Juda.

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 And the king and all the men that were with him went to Jerusalem to the Jebusites the inhabitants of the land: and they said to David: Thou shalt not come in hither unless thou take away the blind and the lame that say: David shall not come in hither.

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 But David took the castle of Sion, the same is the city of David.

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

8 For David had offered that day a reward to whosoever should strike the Jebusites and get up to the gutters of the tops of the houses, and take away the blind and the lame that hated the soul of David: therefore it is said in the proverb: The blind and the lame shall not come into the temple.

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 And David dwelt in the castle, and called it, The city of David: and built round about from Mello and inwards.

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 he went on prospering and growing up, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.

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

11 And Hiram the king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons for walls: and they built a house 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 knew that the Lord bad confirmed him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom over 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 And David took more concubines and wives of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were born to David other sons also and daughters:

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 And these are the names of them, that were born to him in Jerusalem, Samua, and Sobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

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

15 And Jebahar, and Elisua, and Nepheg,

and Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Yaphia;

16 And Japhia, and Elisama, and Elioda, and Eliphaleth.

and Elishama and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

17 And the Philistines heard that they had anointed David to be king over Israel: and they all came to seek David: and when David heard of it, he went down to a strong hold.

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 And the Philistines coming spread themselves in the valley of Raphaim.

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

19 And David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go up to the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said to David: Go up, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into thy 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 And David came to Baal Pharisim: and defeated them there, and he said: The Lord hath divided my enemies before me, as waters are divided. Therefore the name of the place was called Baal Pharisim.

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 And they left there their idols: which David and his men took away.

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

22 And the Philistines came up again and spread themselves in the valley of Raphaim.

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

23 And David consulted the Lord: Shall I go up against the Philistines, and wilt thou deliver them into my hands? He answered: Go not up against them, but fetch a compass behind them, and thou shalt come upon them over against the pear 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 And when thou shalt hear the sound of one going in the tops of the pear trees, then shalt thou join battle: for then will the Lord go out before thy face to strike the army 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 And David did as the Lord had commanded him, and he smote the Philistines from Gabaa until thou come to Gezer.

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