< Kings II 5 >

1 And all the tribes of Israel come to David to Chebron, and they said to him, Behold, we [are] your bone and your flesh.
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said, Truly, we are your bone and your flesh.
2 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.
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 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.
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 Seven years and six months he reigned in Chebron over Juda, and thirty-three years he reigned over all Israel and Juda in Jerusalem.
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 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.
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 And David took first the hold of Sion: this [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, 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.
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 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.
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 advanced and became great, and the Lord Almighty [was] with him.
And David became greater and greater; for the Lord, the God of armies, was with him.
11 And Chiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar wood, and carpenters, and stone-masons: and they built a house for David.
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 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.
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 again wives and concubines out of Jerusalem, after he came from Chebron: and David had still more sons and daughters born to him.
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 to him in Jerusalem; Sammus, and Sobab, 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 Ebear, and Elisue, and Naphec, and Jephies.
And Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia
16 And Elisama, and Elidae, and Eliphalath, Samae, Jessibath, Nathan, Galamaan, Jebaar, Theesus, Eliphalat, Naged, Naphec, Janathan, Leasamys, Baalimath, Eliphaath.
And Elishama and Eliada and Eliphelet.
17 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.
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 And the Philistines came, and assembled in the valley of the giants.
And when the Philistines came, they went in every direction in the valley of Rephaim.
19 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.
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 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.
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 leave there their gods, and David and his men with him took 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 assembled in the valley of Giants.
And the Philistines came up again, and went in every direction in the valley of Rephaim.
23 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.
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 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.
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 as the Lord commanded him, and struck the Philistines from Gabaon as far as the land of Gazera.
And David did as the Lord had said; and he overcame the Philistines, attacking them from Gibeon to near Gezer.

< Kings II 5 >