2 Samuel 5

1 And all the tribes of Israel come unto David, to Hebron, and speak, saying, 'Lo, we [are] thy bone and thy flesh;

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and told him, “We are your flesh and blood.

2 also heretofore, in Saul's being king over us, thou hast been he who is bringing out and bringing in Israel, and Jehovah saith to thee, Thou dost feed My people Israel, and thou art for leader over Israel.'

Previously when Saul was our king, you were the one who led the Israelite army into battle. The Lord told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be their ruler.’”

3 And all the elders of Israel come unto the king, to Hebron, and king David maketh with them a covenant in Hebron before Jehovah, and they anoint David for king over Israel.

All the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made an agreement with them in the Lord's presence. Then they anointed him king of Israel.

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

David was thirty when he became king, and he reigned for 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.

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

6 And the king goeth, and his men, to Jerusalem, unto the Jebusite, the inhabitant of the land, and they speak to David, saying, 'Thou dost not come in hither, except thou turn aside the blind and the lame;' saying, 'David doth not come in hither.'

David the king and his men went to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites who were living there. The Jebusites told David: “You'll never enter here. Even the blind and lame could stop you.” They were convinced that David could not get in.

7 And David captureth the fortress of Zion, it [is] the city of David.

But David did capture the fortress of Zion, now known as the City of David.

8 And David saith on that day, 'Any one smiting the Jebusite, (let him go up by the watercourse), and the lame and the blind — the hated of David's soul,' — because the blind and lame say, 'He doth not come into the house.'

At that time he said, “If we are to successfully conquer the Jebusites we'll have to go up the water shaft to attack these ‘lame and blind’ —these people who hate David. This is why it's said, ‘The blind and the lame will never enter the house.’”

9 And David dwelleth in the fortress, and calleth it — City of David, and David buildeth round about, from Millo and inward,

David went and lived in the fortress, and named it the City of David. He extended it in all directions, starting from the outer supporting terraces and moving inwards.

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

David became increasingly powerful, for the Lord God Almighty was with him.

11 And Hiram king of Tyre sendeth messengers unto David, and cedar-trees, and artificers of wood, and artificers of stone, for walls, and they build a house for David,

King Hiram of Tyre sent representatives to David, together with cedar timber, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.

12 and David knoweth that Jehovah hath established him for king over Israel, and that He hath lifted up his kingdom, because of His people Israel.

David realized that the Lord had installed him as king of Israel, and had made his kingdom great for the sake of his people Israel.

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

After he moved from Hebron, David added more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and he had more sons and daughters.

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

These are the names of his children born in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

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

Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

16 and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

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 heareth, and goeth down unto the fortress,

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, the whole Philistine army came out to capture him, but David found out and went inside the stronghold.

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

The Philistines came and spread out across the Valley of Rephaim.

19 And David asketh of Jehovah, saying, 'Do I go up unto the Philistines? dost Thou give them into my hand?' And Jehovah saith unto David, 'Go up, for I certainly give the Philistines into thy hand.'

David asked the Lord “Should I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” “Yes, go,” the Lord replied, “for I will definitely hand them over to you.”

20 And David cometh in to Baal-Perazim, and David smiteth them there, and saith, 'Jehovah hath broken forth [on] mine enemies before me, as the breaking forth of waters;' therefore he hath called the name of that place Baal-Perazim.

David went to Baal-perazim and he defeated the Philistines there. “Like a flood that bursts out, so the Lord has burst out against my enemies right before me,” David declared. So he named that place Baal-perazim.

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

The Philistines left their idols behind, and David and his men removed them.

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

A while later the Philistines came again and spread out across the Valley of Rephaim.

23 and David asketh of Jehovah, and He saith, 'Thou dost not go up, turn round unto their rear, and thou hast come to them over-against the mulberries,

David asked the Lord what to do. The Lord replied, “Don't attack them directly, but go round behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.

24 and it cometh to pass, in thy hearing the sound of a stepping in the tops of the mulberries, then thou dost move sharply, for then hath Jehovah gone out before thee to smite in the camp of the Philistines.'

Immediately you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees be ready, because this means the Lord has marched out before you to attack the Philistine camp.”

25 And David doth so, as Jehovah commanded him, and smiteth the Philistines from Geba unto thy coming to Gazer.

David followed the Lord's orders, and he slaughtered the Philistines from Geba all the way to Gezer.