2 Samuel 5

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

And all the tribes of Israel come to David to Chebron, and they said to him, Behold, we [are] your bone and your flesh.

2 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.’”

And heretofore Saul being king over us, you was he that did lead out and bring in Israel: and the Lord said to you, You shall feed my people Israel, and you shall be for a leader to my people Israel.

3 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.

And all the elders of Israel come to the king to Chebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Chebron before the Lord; and they anoint David king over all Israel.

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

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

5 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.

Seven years and six months he reigned in Chebron over Juda, and thirty-three years he reigned over all Israel and Juda in Jerusalem.

6 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.

And David and his men, departed to Jerusalem, to the Jebusite that inhabited the land: and it was said to David, You shall not come in hither: for the blind and the lame withstood him, saying, David shall not come in hither.

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

And David took first the hold of Sion: this [is] the city of David.

8 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.’”

And David said on that day, Every one that smites the Jebusite, let him attack with the dagger both the lame and the blind, and those that hate the soul of David. Therefore they say, The lame and the blind shall not enter into the house of the Lord.

9 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.

And David lived in the hold, and it was called the city of David, and he built the city itself round about from the citadel, and [he built] his own house.

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

And David advanced and became great, and the Lord Almighty [was] with him.

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

And Chiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar wood, and carpenters, and stone-masons: and they built a house for David.

12 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.

And David knew that the Lord had prepared him to be king over Israel, and that his kingdom was exalted for the sake of his people Israel.

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

And David took again wives and concubines out of Jerusalem, after he came from Chebron: and David had still more sons and daughters born to him.

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

And these [are] the names of those that were born to him in Jerusalem; Sammus, and Sobab, and Nathan, and Solomon.

15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

And Ebear, and Elisue, and Naphec, and Jephies.

16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

And Elisama, and Elidae, and Eliphalath, Samae, Jessibath, Nathan, Galamaan, Jebaar, Theesus, Eliphalat, Naged, Naphec, Janathan, Leasamys, Baalimath, Eliphaath.

17 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.

And the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over Israel; and all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the strong hold.

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

And the Philistines came, and assembled in the valley of the giants.

19 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.”

And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and will you deliver them into my hands? and the Lord said to David, Go up, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.

20 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.

And David came from Upper Breaches, and struck the Philistines there: and David said, The Lord has destroyed the hostile Philistines before me, as water is dispersed; therefore the name of that place was called Over Breaches.

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

And they leave there their gods, and David and his men with him took them.

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

And the Philistines came up yet again, and assembled in the valley of Giants.

23 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.

And David enquired of the Lord: and the Lord said, You shall not go up to meet them: turn from them, and you shall meet them near the place of weeping.

24 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.”

And it shall come to pass when you hear the sound of a clashing together from the grove of weeping, then you shall go down to them, for then the Lord shall go forth before you to make havoc in the battle with the Philistines.

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

And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck the Philistines from Gabaon as far as the land of Gazera.