2 Samuel 5

1 Then came all the tribes of Israel unto David, in Hebron, —and spake, saying—Behold us! thy bone and thy flesh, we are.

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

2 Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou, wast he that led out and brought in, Israel, —and Yahweh said to thee—Thou, shalt be shepherd unto my people, Israel, and, thou, shalt become 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 So all the elders of Israel came unto the king, in Hebron, and King David solemnised to them a covenant in Hebron, before Yahweh, —and they anointed David to be 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 Thirty years old, was David when he began to reign, —forty years, he reigned:

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

5 in Hebron, reigned he over Judah, seven years, and six months, —and, in Jerusalem, reigned he thirty and 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 Then went the king and his men, to Jerusalem, against the Jebusites, inhabiting the land, —and they spake to David, saying—Thou canst not come in hither, unless thou take away the blind and lame—Thinking, David will not come in hither.

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 So then David captured the citadel of Zion, —the same, is the city of David.

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

8 And David said, on that day—Whosoever is smiting the Jebusites, then let him reach as far as the aqueduct. But, as for the lame and the blind, they were the hated of David’s soul, —for which cause, they kept on saying, Blind and lame! he will not enter the place.

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 So then David dwelt in the citadel, and called it, The City of David, —and David built round about, from Millo and inwards.

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 went on and on waxing great, —Yahweh, God of hosts, being with him.

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

11 Then Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers unto David, with cedar-wood, and carpenters, and masons, and they built 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 So David perceived that Yahweh had established him to be king over Israel, —and that he had exalted his kingdom, for the sake 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 David took him yet more concubines and wives, out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron, and there were, yet further, born unto 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 Now, these, are the names of the sons who were born unto him in Jerusalem, —Shammua 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 Yaphia;

and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg,

16 and Elishama and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

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

17 And, when the Philistine heard that they had anointed David to be king over Israel, then came up all the Philistines to seek to secure David, and David heard of it, and went down into the citadel.

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 Now, the Philistines, had come, —and had spread themselves out in the vale of Rephaim.

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

19 So then David enquired of Yahweh, saying, —Shall I go up against the Philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And Yahweh said unto David—Go up; for I, will surely deliver, the Philistines into thy 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 entered Baal-perazim, and David smote them there, and said—Yahweh hath broken forth upon mine enemies, before me, like a breaking forth of waters. For this cause, called he the name of that place, Baal-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 left their images there, —and David and his men took them away.

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

22 And, yet again, did the Philistines come up, —and they spread themselves out in the vale of Rephaim.

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

23 So David enquired of Yahweh, and he said—Thou shalt not go up, —Get round behind them, and come in upon them, over against the mulberry-trees.

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 shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, then, shalt thou act with decision, —for, then, will Yahweh have gone forth before thee, to smite the host 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 did so, as Yahweh had commanded him, —and smote the Philistines, from Gibeon until thou enterest Gezer.

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