2 Samuel 5

1 And all the tribes of Israel come to David, to Hebron, and speak, saying, “Behold, we [are] your bone and your flesh;

And all the tribes of Israel went to David in Hebron, saying: “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

2 also thus far, in Saul’s being king over us, you have been he who is bringing out and bringing in Israel, and YHWH says to you, You feed My people Israel, and you are for leader over Israel.”

Moreover, yesterday and the day before, when Saul was king over us, you were the one leading out and leading back Israel. Then the Lord said to you, ‘You shall pasture my people Israel, and you shall be the leader over Israel.’”

3 And all [the] elderly of Israel come to the king, to Hebron, and King David makes a covenant with them in Hebron before YHWH, and they anoint David for king over Israel.

Also, the elders of Israel went to the king at Hebron, and king David struck a pact with them at Hebron in the sight of the Lord. And they anointed David as king over Israel.

4 A son of thirty years [is] David in his being king; he has reigned [for] forty years;

David was a son of thirty years, when he had begun to reign, and he reigned for forty years.

5 he reigned over Judah in Hebron [for] seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned [for] thirty-three years, over all Israel and Judah.

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

6 And the king goes, and his men, to Jerusalem, to the Jebusite, the inhabitant of the land, and they speak to David, saying, “You do not come in here, except [that] you turn aside the blind and the lame,” saying, “David does not come in here.”

And the king, and all the men who were with him, went away to Jerusalem, to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. And it was said to David by them, “You shall not enter here, unless you will take away the blind and the lame, who say, ‘David shall not enter here.’”

7 And David captures the fortress of Zion, it [is] the City of David.

But David seized the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.

8 And on that day David says, “Anyone striking the Jebusite, let him go up by the watercourse (and the lame and the blind—the hated of David’s soul).” Therefore they say, “The blind and lame—he does not come into the house.”

For David had proposed, on that day, a reward to him who had struck the Jebusites and who had reached to the gutters of the rooftops, and who had taken away the blind and the lame that hated the soul of David. Therefore, it is said in the proverb, “The blind and the lame shall not enter into the temple.”

9 And David dwells in the fortress, and calls it the City of David, and David builds all around, from Millo and inward,

Then David lived in the stronghold, and he called it: the City of David. And he built it up on all sides, from Millo and inward.

10 and David goes, going on and becoming great, and YHWH, God of Hosts, [is] with him.

And he advanced, prospering and increasing, and the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.

11 And Hiram king of Tyre sends messengers to David, and cedar-trees, and craftsmen of wood, and craftsmen of stone, for walls, and they build a house for David,

Also, Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, with cedar wood, and with builders of wood and builders of stone, in order to make walls. And they built a house for David.

12 and David knows that YHWH has established him for king over Israel, and that He has lifted up his kingdom, because of His people Israel.

And David knew that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom over his people Israel.

13 And again David takes concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after his coming from Hebron, and again there are born to David sons and daughters.

Then David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had arrived from Hebron. And other sons as well as daughters were born to David.

14 And these [are] the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

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

and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg,

16 and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

and Japhia, and Elishama, and Eliada, and Elipheleth.

17 And the Philistines hear that they have anointed David for king over Israel, and all the Philistines come up to seek David, and David hears, and goes down to the fortress,

Then the Philistines heard that they had anointed David as king over Israel. And they all ascended, so that they might seek David. And when David had heard of it, he descended to a stronghold.

18 and the Philistines have come, and are spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

Now the Philistines, arriving, spread themselves out in the Valley of Rephaim.

19 And David asks of YHWH, saying, “Do I go up to the Philistines? Do You give them into my hand?” And YHWH says to David, “Go up, for I certainly give the Philistines into your hand.”

And David consulted the Lord, saying: “Shall I ascend to the Philistines? And will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David: “Ascend. For I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.”

20 And David comes to Ba‘al-Perazim, and David strikes them there, and says, “YHWH has broken forth [on] my enemies before me, as the breaking forth of waters”; therefore he has called the name of that place Ba‘al-Perazim.

Therefore, David went to Baal-perazim. And he struck them there. And he said, “The Lord has divided my enemies before me, just as the waters are divided.” Because of this, the name of that place was called Baal-perazim.

21 And they forsake their idols there, and David and his men lift them up.

And in that place they left behind their graven images, which David and his men took away.

22 And the Philistines add again to come up, and are spread out in the Valley of Rephaim,

And the Philistines continued still, so that they ascended and spread themselves out in the Valley of Rephaim.

23 and David asks of YHWH, and He says, “You do not go up, turn around to their rear, and you have come to them from the front [[or in front]] of the mulberries,

Then David consulted the Lord, “Shall I ascend against the Philistines, and will you deliver them into my hands?” And he responded: “You shall not ascend against them; instead, circle behind their back. And you shall come to them from the side opposite the balsam trees.

24 and it comes to pass, in your hearing the sound of a stepping in the tops of the mulberries, then you move sharply, for then YHWH has gone out before you to strike in the camp of the Philistines.”

And when you hear the sound of something going forth from the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall begin the battle. For then the Lord will go forth, before your face, so that he may strike the army of the Philistines.”

25 And David does so, as YHWH commanded him, and strikes the Philistines from Geba to your coming to Gazer.

And so, David did just as the Lord had instructed him. And he struck down the Philistines, from Gibeon until you arrive at Gezer.