2 Samuel 5

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

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.

2 Already yesterday, and even before, when Saul was king over us, thou wast the one that led out and brought in Israel: And the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt indeed feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a chief over Israel.

Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”

3 Thus came all the elders of Israel to the king unto Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David as king over Israel.

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel.

4 Thirty years was David old when he became king, [and] forty years he reigned.

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned 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.

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

6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land; who said unto David, as followeth, Thou shalt not come in hither, except thou [first] remove away the blind and the lame: meaning, David cannot come in hither.

Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.”

7 Nevertheless David captured the strong-hold of Zion; the same is the city of David.

Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David).

8 And David said on that day, Whosoever will smite the Jebusites, and reach the aqueduct and the lame and the blind, that are hateful to David's soul, —Wherefore people usually say, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.

On that day he said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must use the water shaft to reach the lame and blind who are despised by David.” That is why it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the palace.”

9 And David dwelt in the fort, and he called it “The City of David.” And David built [it] round about from the Millo and inward.

So David took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built it up all the way around, from the supporting terraces inward.

10 And David went on, and became greater and greater, and the Lord the God of hosts was with him.

And David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of Hosts was with him.

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

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.

12 And David felt conscious that the Lord has established him as king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

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

After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

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 the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

15 And Yibchar, and Elishua', and Nepheg, and Yaphia',

Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

16 And Elishama', and Elyada', and Eliphelet.

Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

17 But when the Philistines heard that the people had anointed David as king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David: and David heard of it, and went down to the strong-hold.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.

18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim.

Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

19 And David asked counsel 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.

So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

20 And David came to Ba'al-perazim, and David smote them there, and said, The Lord hath broken down my enemies before me, as a breach [is made by] water. Wherefore he called the name of that place Ba'al-perazim.

So David went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.” So he called that place Baal-perazim.

21 And they left behind there their idols, and David and his men burnt them.

There the Philistines abandoned their idols, and David and his men carried them away.

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

Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

23 And when David asked counsel of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but turn about and fall in the rear of them, and come upon them opposite to the mulberry-trees.

So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.

24 And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of walking on the top of the mulberry-trees, that thou shalt then bestir thyself; for then will the Lord go out before thee, to smite in the camp of the Philistines.

As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has marched out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

25 And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him; and he smote the Philistines from Geba' until thou comest to Gezer.

So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.