5
1 Then
all the tribes
of Israel came
to David at
Hebron and spoke, saying, “Behold, we are your
bone and your
flesh.
2 In
times past, when
Saul was king
over us, it
was you who
led Israel out
and in. The
LORD said to
you, ‘You will
be shepherd of
my people Israel,
and you will
be prince over
Israel.’ ”
3 So
all the elders
of Israel came
to the king
to Hebron, and
King David made
a covenant with
them in Hebron
before the LORD;
and they anointed
David king over
Israel.
4 David
was thirty years
old when he began
to reign, and
he reigned forty
years.
5 In
Hebron he reigned
over Judah seven
years and six
months, and in
Jerusalem he
reigned thirty-three
years over all
Israel and Judah.
6 The
king and his
men went to
Jerusalem against
the Jebusites, the
inhabitants of
the land, who spoke
to David, saying, “The
blind and the
lame will keep
you out of
here,” thinking, “David
can’t come in
here.”
7 Nevertheless
David took the
stronghold of Zion.
This is David’s
city.
8 David
said on that
day, “Whoever
strikes the
Jebusites, let him
go up to
the watercourse and
strike those lame
and blind, who
are hated by
David’s soul.”
Therefore they say, “The
blind and the
lame can’t come
into the house.”
9 David
lived in the
stronghold, and
called it David’s
city. David built
around from Millo
and inward.
10 David
grew greater and
greater, for the
LORD, the God
of Armies, was
with him.
11 Hiram
king of Tyre
sent messengers to
David, with cedar
trees, carpenters,
and masons; and
they built David
a house.
12 David
perceived that the
LORD had
established him
king over Israel,
and that he
had exalted his
kingdom for his
people Israel’s
sake.
13 David
took more
concubines and wives
for himself out of
Jerusalem, after he
had come from
Hebron; and more
sons and daughters
were born to
David.
14 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.
17 When
the Philistines
heard that they
had anointed David
king over Israel,
all the
Philistines went
up to seek
David, but David
heard about it
and went down
to the stronghold.
18 Now the
Philistines had come
and spread themselves
in the valley
of Rephaim.
19 David
inquired of the
LORD, saying, “Shall
I go up
against the
Philistines? Will
you deliver them
into my hand?”
The LORD said to
David, “Go up;
for I will
certainly deliver
the Philistines
into your hand.”
20 David
came to Baal Perazim,
and David struck
them there. Then
he said, “The
LORD has broken
my enemies before
me, like the
breach of waters.”
Therefore he
called the name
of that place Baal
Perazim.
21 They
left their images
there, and David
and his men took
them away.
22 The
Philistines came
up yet again
and spread themselves
in the valley
of Rephaim.
23 When
David inquired of
the LORD, he said,
“You shall not
go up. Circle
around behind them,
and attack them
in front of
the mulberry trees.
24 When
you hear the
sound of marching
in the tops
of the mulberry
trees, then stir yourself
up; for then
the LORD has
gone out before
you to strike
the army of
the Philistines.”
25 David
did so, as
the LORD commanded
him, and struck
the Philistines
all the way
from Geba to
Gezer.