2 Samuel 5
Easy-to-Read Version
The Israelites Make David King
5 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. They said to David, “Look, we are one family[a]! 2 Even when Saul was our king, you were the one who led us into battle. And you were the one who brought Israel back home from war. The Lord himself said to you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people, the Israelites. You will be the ruler over Israel.’”
3 So all the leaders of Israel came to meet with King David at Hebron. He made an agreement with them in Hebron in front of the Lord, and they anointed David to be the king of Israel.
4 David was 30 years old when he began to rule. He was king for 40 years. 5 In Hebron he ruled over Judah for 7 years and 6 months, and in Jerusalem he ruled over all Israel and Judah for 33 years.
David Captures Jerusalem
6 The king and his men went to fight against the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites said to David, “You cannot come into our city.[b] Even our blind and crippled people can stop you.” (They said this because they thought that David would not be able to enter into their city. 7 But David did take the fort of Zion. This fort became the City of David.)
8 That day David said to his men, “Whenever you strike at the Jebusites, aim for the throat and kill them.”[c] David said this because he hates to have people left who are crippled and blind. That is why people now say, “The lame and blind are not allowed in the temple.[d]”
9 David lived in the fort and called it “The City of David.” David built up the city from the Millo[e] inward.[f] 10 He became stronger and stronger because the Lord All-Powerful was with him.
11 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David. He also sent cedar trees, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a house for David. 12 Then David knew that the Lord had really made him king of Israel and had made him ruler over his kingdom for the good of his people, Israel.
13 David moved from Hebron to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, he got more slave women and wives. So David had more children who were born in Jerusalem. 14 David’s sons who were born in Jerusalem are Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
David Fights Against the Philistines
17 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had anointed David to be the king of Israel, all the Philistines went up to kill him. David heard about this and went down into the fort at Jerusalem. 18 The Philistines came and camped in Rephaim Valley.
19 David asked the Lord, saying, “Should I go up to fight against the Philistines? Will you help me defeat them?”
The Lord answered, “Yes, I certainly will help you defeat the Philistines.”
20 Then David went to Baal Perazim and defeated the Philistines in that place. He said, “The Lord broke through my enemies like water breaking through a dam.” That is why David named that place “Baal Perazim.”[g] 21 The Philistines left the statues of their gods behind at Baal Perazim. David and his men took them away.
22 Again the Philistines came up and camped in Rephaim Valley.
23 David prayed to the Lord again and got this answer: “Don’t go up the valley. Go around them to the other side of their army. Attack them from the other side of the balsam trees. 24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, you must act quickly because that is the sign that the Lord has gone out in front of you to defeat the Philistines.[h]”
25 David did what the Lord commanded him to do, and he defeated the Philistines. He chased them from Geba to Gezer, killing them all along the way.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 5:1 one family Literally, “your flesh and blood.”
- 2 Samuel 5:6 You cannot come … city The city of Jerusalem was built on a hill. It had high walls around it, making it hard to capture.
- 2 Samuel 5:8 Whenever … kill them Or “Whoever wants to attack the Jebusites must go through the shaft.” This might refer to a tunnel or shaft leading up into the city through Gihon Spring, which was outside the city walls.
- 2 Samuel 5:8 temple Or “the king’s palace.”
- 2 Samuel 5:9 Millo This is probably the stone foundation walls that were built on the steep slopes on the east side of the City of David.
- 2 Samuel 5:9 inward Or “toward the Temple.”
- 2 Samuel 5:20 Baal Perazim This name means “the Lord breaks through.”
- 2 Samuel 5:24 Or “From the top of the balsam trees you will be able to hear them marching into battle. Then you must act quickly, because at that time the Lord will go ahead of you and defeat the Philistines for you.”
2 Samuel 5
New King James Version
David Reigns over All Israel(A)
5 Then all the tribes of Israel (B)came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed (C)we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, (D)you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord said to you, (E)‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ” 3 (F)Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, (G)and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron (H)before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was (I)thirty years old when he began to reign, and (J)he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah (K)seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
The Conquest of Jerusalem(L)
6 (M)And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against (N)the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (O)(that is, the City of David).
8 Now David said on that day, “Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul), (P)he shall be chief and captain.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”
9 Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it (Q)the City of David. And David built all around from [a]the Millo and inward. 10 So David went on and became great, and (R)the Lord God of hosts was with (S)him.
11 Then (T)Hiram (U)king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house. 12 So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had (V)exalted His kingdom (W)for the sake of His people Israel.
13 And (X)David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 Now (Y)these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: [b]Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, (Z)Solomon, 15 Ibhar, [c]Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
The Philistines Defeated(AA)
17 (AB)Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it (AC)and went down to the stronghold. 18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in (AD)the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David (AE)inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”
And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
20 So David went to (AF)Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place [d]Baal Perazim. 21 And they left their [e]images there, and David and his men (AG)carried them away.
22 (AH)Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 Therefore (AI)David inquired of the Lord, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. 24 And it shall be, when you (AJ)hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then (AK)the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 25 And David did so, as the Lord commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from (AL)Geba[f] as far as (AM)Gezer.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 5:9 Lit. The Landfill
- 2 Samuel 5:14 Shimea, 1 Chr. 3:5
- 2 Samuel 5:15 Elishama, 1 Chr. 3:6
- 2 Samuel 5:20 Lit. Master of Breakthroughs
- 2 Samuel 5:21 idols
- 2 Samuel 5:25 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX Gibeon
2 Samuel 5
English Standard Version
David Anointed King of Israel
5 Then all the tribes of Israel (A)came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, (B)we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, (C)it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, (D)‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince[a] over Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, (E)and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron (F)before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and (G)he reigned forty years. 5 (H)At Hebron he reigned over Judah (I)seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.[b]
6 (J)And the king and his men went to Jerusalem (K)against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 7 Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, (L)that is, the city of David. 8 And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David's soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” 9 And David lived in the stronghold and called it (M)the city of David. And David built the city all around from the (N)Millo inward. 10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.
11 (O)And (P)Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house. 12 And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
13 And David took more (Q)concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 (R)And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
David Defeats the Philistines
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down (S)to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in (T)the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David (U)inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” (V)Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.[c] 21 And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.
22 And the Philistines came up yet again (W)and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 (X)And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 24 And (Y)when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, (Z)for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 25 And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba (AA)to Gezer.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 5:2 Or leader
- 2 Samuel 5:5 Dead Sea Scroll lacks verses 4–5
- 2 Samuel 5:20 Baal-perazim means Lord of breaking through
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
