2 Samuel 5
Lexham English Bible
David Anointed as King over All of Israel
5 So all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and they said, “Here we are, we are your flesh and blood.[a] 2 For some time,[b] when Saul was king over us, you were leading Israel in and out.[c] Yahweh had said to you, ‘You shall be the shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be the leader over Israel.’” 3 All the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant[d] with them at Hebron in the presence of Yahweh; then they anointed David as king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign; he reigned forty years. 5 He reigned over Judah at Hebron for seven years and six months; and he reigned over all Israel and Judah at Jerusalem for thirty-three years.
The Capture and Growth of Jerusalem
6 The king and his men went to Jerusalem, to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. They said to David, “You will not come here, for even the blind and the lame can turn you back, saying, ‘David cannot come here.’” 7 David captured the fortress of Zion, the city of David. 8 David had said, “On that day when we attack the Jebusites,[e] one must attack the lame and the blind, those who hate the soul of David, by means of the water supply.” For thus the blind and the lame would say, “He cannot come into the house.” 9 David occupied the fortress and called it the city of David. And David built all around it from the Millo and inward.[f]
10 David continued growing stronger and stronger,[g] and Yahweh the God of hosts was with him. 11 So Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, along with cedar trees and craftsmen skilled in wood and in stone masonry,[h] and they built a house for David. 12 David realized that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom because of his people Israel. 13 David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 These are the names of the ones born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua and Shobab and Nathan and Solomon; 15 Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia; 16 Elishama and Eliada and Eliphelet.
War with the Philistines
17 When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David as king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David, but David heard and went down to the stronghold.[i] 18 Now the Philistines had come, and they spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up to the Philistines? Will you give them into my hands?” Yahweh said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give[j] the Philistines into your hand.” 20 So David came to Baal Perazim and defeated them there; and David said, “Yahweh has burst through my enemies before me like the bursting of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.[k] 21 They had left their idols there, so David and his men carried them away.
22 Once again[l] the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 So David inquired of Yahweh, but he said, “You shall not go up. Rather, go around to their rear and come to them from opposite the balsam trees. 24 And it shall be[m] that when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then pay attention, for then Yahweh has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 25 So David did thus, just as Yahweh had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Geba all the way[n] to Gezer.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 5:1 Literally “We are your bone and your flesh”
- 2 Samuel 5:2 Literally “Both yesterday and three days before”
- 2 Samuel 5:2 Literally “you were going out and coming in, Israel.” (So Kethib; Qere reads “bringing out and bringing in Israel”)
- 2 Samuel 5:3 Literally “cut a covenant”
- 2 Samuel 5:8 Literally “in all of the striking down the Jebusites”
- 2 Samuel 5:9 Literally “to the house”
- 2 Samuel 5:10 Literally “went going and great”
- 2 Samuel 5:11 Literally “skilled craftsmen of wood and skilled craftsmen of stone wall”
- 2 Samuel 5:17 Thought by many to be the stronghold of Masada
- 2 Samuel 5:19 Literally “giving I will give”
- 2 Samuel 5:20 Baal Perazim may mean “the master of the bursting through”
- 2 Samuel 5:22 Literally “And they again did again”
- 2 Samuel 5:24 Literally “And it shall happen”
- 2 Samuel 5:25 Literally “as you go up”
2 Samuel 5
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 5
David as King of Israel.[a] 1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said: “Listen to us. We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In former days, when Saul was our king, you were the one who led the Israelites on their campaigns and brought them back. Moreover, the Lord said to you: ‘You shall be the shepherd of my people Israel and be the ruler of Israel.’ ” 3 Then all the elders of Israel came to David, the king of Hebron, and David made a covenant with them there before the Lord. After this they anointed David as king of Israel.
4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and then in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.
Capture of Zion. 6 Then the king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites who inhabited the land. These people said to David: “You will never come in here. Even the blind and the lame will stop you in your tracks.” In this way they showed their contempt for David and his forces.
7 [b]Despite their boast, David did take the stronghold of Zion, which is now known as the City of David. 8 David had said on that day: “All those who are eager to attack the Jebusites must scale the water shaft to attack the lame and the blind, the bitter enemies of David.” Therefore, it is said: “The blind and the lame shall not enter the palace.”
9 David then took up residence in the stronghold and called it the City of David. After that, he constructed a wall around it from the Millo[c] inward. 10 David steadily continued to grow more powerful, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.
11 King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David with cedar wood, and he also supplied carpenters and stonemasons who built a palace for David. 12 Then David had no doubt at all that the Lord had established him as king of Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
13 David’s Family in Jerusalem. After he departed from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.[d] 14 These are the names of those children who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17 Rout of the Philistines.[e] When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they all went forth in search of him. When David learned of this, he sought refuge in the stronghold. 18 After the Philistines arrived and deployed their forces in the valley of Rephaim, 19 David inquired of the Lord: “Shall I go forth and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my power?” The Lord replied to David: “Go forth and attack them! I shall deliver the Philistines into your hands.”
20 Therefore, David went forth to Baal-perazim and defeated them there. Then he said: “The Lord has broken through the battle lines of my enemies as though they had been breached by the flood waters of a river.” That is why that place is called Baal-perazim. 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.
22 However, the Philistines made another invasion and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 Then David once again consulted the Lord, who said: “Do not attack them from the front. Rather, encircle them from the rear and attack them in front of the balsam trees. 24 When you hear the sound of marching in the top of the balsam trees, advance immediately, for then you will know that the Lord has gone forth ahead of you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”
25 David followed the instructions of the Lord, and he routed the Philistines from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 5:1 Jerusalem, which had not belonged to either Judah or Israel, will be the sign of the nation’s political unity and, quite soon, of its religious unity as well; it will be the symbol of God’s presence in the midst of humanity. Both the Jewish and, later, the Christian traditions will meditate deeply on the mystery of Jerusalem; the Church will be seen as the new Jerusalem (Gal 4:26; Heb 12:22), the Jerusalem of the last times, which in turn prepares the way for the “Jerusalem that is to come” (see Rev 21).
- 2 Samuel 5:7 Stronghold of Zion: the name “Zion” continued in use and was extended to include the entire hill on which the temple would later be built (see 2 Sam 24:15-25; 2 Chr 3:1).
- 2 Samuel 5:9 Millo: a supporting terrace or embankment, the precise form of which we do not know, formed the southern extremity of the City of David (see 1 Ki 9:15; 2 Chr 32:5).
- 2 Samuel 5:13 David’s love for God seems to have been matched by his love for women. Unfortunately, his many children later caused many problems for him and for Israel.
- 2 Samuel 5:17 David had somewhat of an unholy alliance with the Philistines who turned against him when he was intent on uniting Israel. David’s reliance on the Lord and obedience in following his instructions in attacking the Philistines was rewarded once again.
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