2 Samuel 5

1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, 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 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: And Yhwh said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain 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 league with them in Hebron before Yhwh: 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 unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake 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 strong hold 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 getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not 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 So David dwelt in the fort, 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 went on, and grew great, And Yhwh God of Armies 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 an 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 Yhwh 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 be 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 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

And Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia

16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

And Elishama and Eliada and Eliphelet.

17 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came 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 The Philistines also came 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 enquired of Yhwh, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And Yhwh said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine 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 said, Yhwh hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place 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 there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.

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 enquired of Yhwh, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass 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 let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall Yhwh go out before thee, to smite the army 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 Yhwh had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.

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