2 Samuel 5

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

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

2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was thou that didst 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.'

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.

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel.

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.

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

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

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

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

6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke unto David, saying: 'Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither'; thinking: 'David cannot come in hither.'

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.

7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.

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

8 And David said on that day: 'Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, and getteth up to the gutter, and taketh away the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul —.' Wherefore they say: 'There are the blind and the lame; he cannot come into the house.'

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.

9 And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

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.

10 And David waxed greater and greater; for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him.

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

11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.

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

12 And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for His people Israel's sake.

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.

13 And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron; and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.

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

14 And these are the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon;

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

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

And Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia

16 and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.

And Elishama and Eliada and Eliphelet.

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

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.

18 Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

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

19 And David inquired of the LORD, saying: 'Shall I go up against the Philistines? wilt Thou deliver them into my hand?' And the LORD said unto David: 'Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into thy hand.'

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.

20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and he said: 'The LORD hath broken mine enemies before me, like the breach of waters.' Therefore the name of that place was called Baal-perazim.

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.

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

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

22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

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

23 And when David inquired of the LORD, He said: 'Thou shalt not go up; make a circuit behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees.

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.

24 And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then is the LORD gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.'

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.

25 And David did so, as the LORD commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gezer.

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