II Samuel 5

¹And all the tribes of Israel went to David in Hebron, saying: “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

²Moreover, yesterday and the day before, when Saul was king over us, you were the one leading out and leading back Israel. Then the Lord said to you, ‘You shall pasture my people Israel, and you shall be the leader over Israel.’ ”

³Also, the elders of Israel went to the king at Hebron, and king David struck a pact with them at Hebron in the sight of the Lord. And they anointed David as king over Israel.

⁴David was a son of thirty years, when he had begun to reign, and he reigned for forty years.

⁵In Hebron, he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months. Then in Jerusalem, he reigned for thirty-three years over all of Israel and Judah.

⁶And the king, and all the men who were with him, went away to Jerusalem, to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. And it was said to David by them, “You shall not enter here, unless you will take away the blind and the lame, who say, ‘David shall not enter here.’ ”

⁷But David seized the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.

⁸For David had proposed, on that day, a reward to him who had struck the Jebusites and who had reached to the gutters of the rooftops, and who had taken away the blind and the lame that hated the soul of David. Therefore, it is said in the proverb, “The blind and the lame shall not enter into the temple.”

⁹Then David lived in the stronghold, and he called it: the City of David. And he built it up on all sides, from Millo and inward.

¹⁰And he advanced, prospering and increasing, and the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.

¹¹Also, Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, with cedar wood, and with builders of wood and builders of stone, in order to make walls. And they built a house for David.

¹²And David knew that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom over his people Israel.

¹³Then David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had arrived from Hebron. And other sons as well as daughters were born to David.

¹⁴And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

¹⁵and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg,

¹⁶and Japhia, and Elishama, and Eliada, and Elipheleth.

¹⁷Then the Philistines heard that they had anointed David as king over Israel. And they all ascended, so that they might seek David. And when David had heard of it, he descended to a stronghold.

¹⁸Now the Philistines, arriving, spread themselves out in the Valley of Rephaim.

¹⁹And David consulted the Lord, saying: “Shall I ascend to the Philistines? And will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David: “Ascend. For I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.”

²⁰Therefore, David went to Baal-perazim. And he struck them there. And he said, “The Lord has divided my enemies before me, just as the waters are divided.” Because of this, the name of that place was called Baal-perazim.

²¹And in that place they left behind their graven images, which David and his men took away.

²²And the Philistines continued still, so that they ascended and spread themselves out in the Valley of Rephaim.

²³Then David consulted the Lord, “Shall I ascend against the Philistines, and will you deliver them into my hands?” And he responded: “You shall not ascend against them; instead, circle behind their back. And you shall come to them from the side opposite the balsam trees.

²⁴And when you hear the sound of something going forth from the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall begin the battle. For then the Lord will go forth, before your face, so that he may strike the army of the Philistines.”

²⁵And so, David did just as the Lord had instructed him. And he struck down the Philistines, from Gibeon until you arrive at Gezer.

II Samuel 5

¹Then all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron, saying: Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh.

²Moreover yesterday also and the day before, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that did lead out and bring in Israel: and the Lord said to thee: Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.

³The ancients also of Israel came to the king of Hebron, and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David to be king over Israel.

⁴David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

⁵In Hebron he reigned over Juda seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned three and thirty years over all Israel and Juda.

⁶And the king and all the men that were with him went to Jerusalem to the Jebusites the inhabitants of the land: and they said to David: Thou shalt not come in hither unless thou take away the blind and the lame that say: David shall not come in hither.

⁷But David took the castle of Sion, the same is the city of David.

⁸For David had offered that day a reward to whosoever should strike the Jebusites and get up to the gutters of the tops of the houses, and take away the blind and the lame that hated the soul of David: therefore it is said in the proverb: The blind and the lame shall not come into the temple.

⁹And David dwelt in the castle, and called it, The city of David: and built round about from Mello and inwards.

¹⁰And he went on prospering and growing up, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.

¹¹And Hiram the king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons for walls: and they built a house for David.

¹²And David knew that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom over his people Israel.

¹³And David took more concubines and wives of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were born to David other sons also and daughters:

¹⁴And these are the names of them, that were born to him in Jerusalem, Samua, and Sobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

¹⁵And Jebahar, and Elisua, and Nepheg,

¹⁶And Japhia, and Elisama, and Elioda, and Eliphaleth.

¹⁷And the Philistines heard that they had anointed David to be king over Israel: and they all came to seek David: and when David heard of it, he went down to a strong hold.

¹⁸And the Philistines coming spread themselves in the valley of Raphaim.

¹⁹And David consulted the Lord, Saying: Shall I go up to the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said to David: Go up, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into thy hand.

²⁰And David came to Baal Pharisim: and defeated them there, and he said, The Lord hath divided my enemies before me, as waters are divided. Therefore the name of the place was called Baal Pharisim.

²¹And they left there their idols: which David and his men took away.

²²And the Philistines came up again and spread themselves into the valley of Raphaim.

²³And David consulted the Lord: Shall I go up against the Philistines, and wilt thou deliver them into my hands? He answered: Go not up against them but fetch a compass behind them, and thou shalt come upon them over against the pear trees.

²⁴And when thou shalt hear the sound of one going in the tops of the pear trees, then shalt thou join battle: for then will the Lord go out before thy face to strike the army of the Philistines.

²⁵And David did as the Lord had commanded him, and he smote the Philistines from Gabaa until thou come to Gezer.