2 Samuel 5
Common English Bible
David becomes king of Israel and Judah
5 All the Israelite tribes came to David at Hebron and said, “Listen: We are your very own flesh and bone. 2 In the past, when Saul ruled over us, you were the one who led Israel out to war and back. What’s more, the Lord told you, You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be Israel’s leader.
3 So all the Israelite elders came to the king at Hebron. King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.
4 David was 30 years old when he became king, and he ruled for forty years. 5 He ruled over Judah for seven and a half years in Hebron. He ruled thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is captured
6 The king and his troops marched on Jerusalem against the Jebusites, who inhabited the territory. The Jebusites said to David, “You’ll never get us in here! Even the blind and the lame will beat you back!” “David will never enter here,” they said to each other.[a] 7 But David did capture the fortress of Zion—which became David’s City. 8 “On that day,” David said, “whoever attacks the Jebusites should strike the windpipe because David hates the lame and the blind.”[b] That is why people say, “The blind and the lame will not enter the temple.”[c] 9 David occupied the fortress, so it was renamed David’s City. David built a city around it from the earthen terraces[d] inward.[e] 10 David grew increasingly powerful, and the Lord of heavenly forces was with him.
11 Tyre’s King Hiram sent messengers to David with cedar logs, bricklayers, and carpenters to build David a palace. 12 Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingship was held in great honor for the sake of his people Israel. 13 After he left Hebron, David married more secondary wives in Jerusalem and fathered more sons and daughters. 14 The names of his children in Jerusalem were as follows: 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, they all marched up to find him, but David heard of it and went down to the fortress. 18 The Philistines arrived and spread out over the Rephaim Valley. 19 David asked the Lord, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”
“Attack them,” the Lord replied, “because I will definitely hand the Philistines over to you.”
20 So David arrived at Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. He said, “The Lord has burst out against my enemies, the way water bursts out!” That is why that place is called Baal-perazim.[f] 21 The Philistines left their divine images behind, and David and his men carried them off.
22 Once again the Philistines came up and spread out across the Rephaim Valley. 23 When David asked the Lord, God replied, “Don’t attack them directly. Circle around behind them and come at them from in front of the balsam trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, then attack, for God has attacked in front of you to defeat the Philistine army.” 25 David followed God’s orders exactly, and they defeated the Philistine army from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 5:6 Or they thought; Heb lacks to each other.
- 2 Samuel 5:8 Or take the water shaft against the lame and the blind who hate David; Heb uncertain
- 2 Samuel 5:8 Or palace
- 2 Samuel 5:9 Heb Millo
- 2 Samuel 5:9 DSS (4QSama); MT lacks city.
- 2 Samuel 5:20 Baal-perazim means the lord (Heb baal) of breaking out; see note at 2 Sam 6:8.
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
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
