2 Samuel 5

Modern

Literal

David Anointed King of All Israel

¹Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.

¹And all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and they spoke, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh.

²Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”

²Also formerly, even heretofore, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel. And YHWH said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and you shall be ruler over Israel.’”

³So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel.

³And all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. And King David cut with them a covenant at Hebron before the face of YHWH, and they anointed David king over Israel.

⁴David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.

⁴David was a son of thirty years when he began to reign; forty years he reigned.

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

David Conquers Jerusalem

⁶Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.”

⁶And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusite, the dweller of the land, and he spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here, for but the blind and the lame will repel you.” They said, “David cannot come in here.”

⁷Nevertheless , David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David).

⁷And David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).

⁸On that day he said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must use the water shaft to reach the lame and blind who are despised by David.”^a That is why it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the palace.”

⁸and David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusite, let him go up by the water shaft (and the lame and the blind who are hated by the soul of David).” And upon thus they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”

⁹So David took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built it up all the way around, from the supporting terraces^a inward.

⁹And David dwelt in the stronghold, and he called it the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward.

¹⁰And David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of Hosts was with him.

¹⁰And David went on, going on and becoming great, and YHWH, God of Hosts, was with him.

¹¹Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.

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

David’s Family Grows

¹²And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

¹²And David knew that YHWH had established him as king over Israel, and that He had lifted up his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

¹³After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

¹³And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he had come from Hebron, and were born to David more sons and daughters.

¹⁴These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua,^a Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

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

¹⁵Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

¹⁵and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

¹⁶Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

¹⁶and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.

Two Victories over the Philistines

¹⁷When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.

¹⁷And the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, and all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard and went down to the stronghold.

¹⁸Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

¹⁸And the Philistines went and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

¹⁹So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”

“Go up,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

¹⁹And David inquired of YHWH, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?” And YHWH said to David, “Go up, for I will surely give the Philistines into your hand.”

²⁰So David went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.” So he called that place Baal-perazim.^a

²⁰And David went to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there, and he said, “YHWH has broken through my enemies before me like a breakthrough of waters.” Upon thus he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.

²¹There the Philistines abandoned their idols, and David and his men carried them away.

²¹And there they left their images, and David and his men carried them away.

²²Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

²²And the Philistines added again to come up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

²³So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.^a

²³And David inquired of YHWH, and He said, “You shall not go up. Circle around unto behind them and come upon them in front of the balsam trees.

²⁴As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

²⁴And it shall come to pass when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then YHWH will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

²⁵So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon^a to Gezer.

²⁵And David did so, as YHWH had commanded him, and he drove back the Philistines from Gibeon as far as your coming to Gazer.