2 Samuel 5

1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Look, we are your flesh and bone.

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron, saying: Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh.

2 In the recent past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led the Israelite army. Yahweh said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become ruler over Israel.'”

Moreover yesterday also and the day before, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that did lead out and bring in Israel: and the Lord said to thee: Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them before Yahweh. They anointed David king over Israel.

The ancients also of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David to be 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 began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

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

In Hebron he reigned over Juda seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned three and thirty years over all Israel and Juda.

6 The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. They said to David, “You will not come here except to be turned away by the blind and the lame. David cannot come here.”

And the king and all the men that were with him went to Jerusalem to the Jebusites the inhabitants of the land: and they said to David: Thou shalt not come in hither unless thou take away the blind and the lame that say: David shall not come in hither.

7 Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, which now is the city of David.

But David took the castle of Sion, the same is the city of David.

8 At that time David said, “Those who attack the Jebusites will have to go through the water shaft to reach the 'lame and the blind' who are David's enemies.” That is why people say, “The 'blind and the lame' must not enter the palace.”

For David had offered that day a reward to whosoever should strike the Jebusites and get up to the gutters of the tops of the houses, and take 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 come into the temple.

9 So David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. He fortified around it, from the terrace toward the inside.

And David dwelt in the castle, and called it, The city of David: and built round about from Mello and inwards.

10 David became very powerful because Yahweh, the God of hosts, was with him.

And he went on prospering and growing up, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.

11 Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, carpenters, and masons. They built a house for David.

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

12 David knew that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

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

13 After David left Hebron and came to Jerusalem, he took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

And David took more concubines and wives of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were born to David other sons also and daughters:

14 These were the names of the children who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

And these are the names of them, that were born to him in Jerusalem, Samua, and Sobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

And Jebahar, and Elisua, and Nepheg,

16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

And Japhia, and Elisama, and Elioda, and Eliphaleth.

17 Now when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed as king over Israel, they all went out looking for him. But David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.

And the Philistines heard that they had anointed David to be king over Israel: and they all came to seek David: and when David heard of it, he went down to a strong hold.

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

And the Philistines coming spread themselves in the valley of Raphaim.

19 Then David asked for help from Yahweh. He said, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you give victory over them?” Yahweh said to David, “Attack, for I will certainly give you victory over the Philistines.”

And David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go up to the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said to David: Go up, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into thy hand.

20 So David attacked at Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He commented, “Yahweh has burst through my enemies before me like a bursting flood of water.” So the name of that place became Baal Perazim.

And David came to Baal Pharisim: and defeated them there, and he said: The Lord hath divided my enemies before me, as waters are divided. Therefore the name of the place was called Baal Pharisim.

21 The Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.

And they left there their idols: which David and his men took away.

22 Then the Philistines came up again and spread out once more in the Valley of Rephaim.

And the Philistines came up again and spread themselves in the valley of Raphaim.

23 So David sought help from Yahweh again, and Yahweh said to him, “You must not attack their front, but rather circle around behind them and come on them through the balsam woods.

And David consulted the Lord: Shall I go up against the Philistines, and wilt thou deliver them into my hands? He answered: Go not up against them, but fetch a compass behind them, and thou shalt come upon them over against the pear trees.

24 When you hear the sound of marching in the wind blowing through the balsam treetops, then attack with force. Do this because Yahweh will have gone out before you to attack the army of the Philistines.”

And when thou shalt hear the sound of one going in the tops of the pear trees, then shalt thou join battle: for then will the Lord go out before thy face to strike the army of the Philistines.

25 So David did as Yahweh had commanded him. He killed Philistines from Geba all the way to Gezer.

And David did as the Lord had commanded him, and he smote the Philistines from Gabaa until thou come to Gezer.