2 Samuel 5:17-25

New International Version

David Defeats the Philistines^(A)

¹⁷When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.^(B) ¹⁸Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;^(C) ¹⁹so David inquired^(D) of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”

²⁰So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.^[a]^(E) ²¹The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.^(F)

²²Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; ²³so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. ²⁴As soon as you hear the sound^(G) of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front^(H) of you to strike the Philistine army.” ²⁵So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines^(I) all the way from Gibeon^[b]^(J) to Gezer.^(K)

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Footnotes

2 Samuel 5:20 Baal Perazim means the lord who breaks out.
2 Samuel 5:25 Septuagint (see also 1 Chron. 14:16); Hebrew Geba

1 Chronicles 14:8-16

New International Version

David Defeats the Philistines^(A)

⁸When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel,^(B) they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went out to meet them. ⁹Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley^(C) of Rephaim; ¹⁰so David inquired of God: “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, I will deliver them into your hands.”

¹¹So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim,^(D) and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.^[a] ¹²The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn^(E) them in the fire.^(F)

¹³Once more the Philistines raided the valley;^(G) ¹⁴so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, “Do not go directly after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. ¹⁵As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” ¹⁶So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon^(H) to Gezer.^(I)