2 Samuel 5

And all of the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. And they spoke, saying, “Behold us, we {are} your bone and your flesh.

Both yesterday and the third day, when Saul was king over us, you, you were the one bringing out and bringing in Israel. And God said to you, ‘You, you will shepherd my people Israel, and you, you will become the ruler over Israel.’” \*

Then all of the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David cut for them a covenant in Hebron to the face of God. And they anointed David as king over Israel. \*

David {was} a son of 30 years when he became king. He reigned 40 years.

In Hebron, he reigned over Judah seven years and six months. And in Jerusalem, he reigned 33 years over all of Israel and Judah. \*

And the king and his men went {to} Jerusalem, to the Jebusite, the dweller of the land. And he spoke to David, saying, “You will not come here, but surely the blind and the lame will turn you away,” saying, “David will not come here.”

But David captured the stronghold of Zion. (It {is} the City of David.) \*

And David said on that day, “Anyone striking the Jebusite, then let him approach through the water shaft the lame and the blind, hated by the soul of David.” (Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”) \*

And David dwelled in the stronghold, and he called it the City of David. And David built around {it}, from the Millo and toward the house.

And David went, going and becoming great, for God, the God of Armies, {was} with him. \*

And Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, and trees of cedar and craftsmen of wood and craftsmen of stone of wall. And they built a house for David.

Then David knew that God had established him as king over Israel and that he had lifted up his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. \*

And David again took concubines and wives at Jerusalem after his coming from Hebron. And again sons and daughters were born to David.

And these {are} the names of the ones born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua and Shobab and Nathan and Solomon

and Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia

and Elishama and Eliada and Eliphelet. \*

And the Philistines heard that they had anointed David as king over Israel, and all of the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard, and he went down to the stronghold.

And the Philistines came, and they spread themselves out in the Valley of the Raphaites. \*

And David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up to the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” \* And God said to David, “Go up, for giving, I will give the Philistines into your hand.” \*

So David came {to} Baal Perazim, and David struck them there. And he said, “God has broken through my enemies to my face like the breach of waters.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.

And they abandoned their idols there, and David and his men took them away. \*

And the Philistines resumed again to go up, and they spread themselves out in the Valley of the Raphaites.

And David inquired of God, and he said, “You shall not go up. Go around to behind them, and you shall come to them from opposite the balsam trees. \*

And it will be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act determinedly, for then God will go out to your face to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

And David did thus, just as God commanded him. And he struck the Philistines from Geba to your coming {to} Gezer. \*