2 Samuel 5

David Becomes King Over Israel

1 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "We are your own flesh and blood.2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.'"

3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

David Conquers Jerusalem

6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here."7 Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.

8 On that day David had said, "Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those 'lame and blind' who are David's enemies.t" That is why they say, "The 'blind and lame' will not enter the palace."

9 David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terracest inward.10 And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.

11 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.12 Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

13 After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.14 These are the names of the children born to him there: 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 went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;

19 so David inquired 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."

20 So 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.t21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.

22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;23 so 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.24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army."25 So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeont to Gezer.

2 SAMUEL 5

David Becomes King //of Israel

(1 Chronicles 11.1-3)

1 Israel's leaders met with David at Hebron and said, “We are your relatives.

2 Even when Saul was king, you led our nation in battle. And the [Lord] promised that someday you would rule Israel and take care of us like a shepherd.”

3 During the meeting, David made an agreement with the leaders and asked the [Lord] to be their witness. Then the leaders poured olive oil on David's head to show that he was now the king of Israel.
4  t David was 30 years old when he became king, and he ruled for 40 years.

5 He lived in Hebron for the first seven and a half years and ruled only Judah. Then he moved to Jerusalem, where he ruled both Israel and Judah for 33 years.

How David Captured //Jerusalem

(1 Chronicles 11.4-9; 14.1,2)

6  t The Jebusites lived in Jerusalem, and David led his army there to attack them. The Jebusites did not think he could get in, so they told him, “You can't get in here! We could keep you out, even if we couldn't see or walk!”

7-9 David told his troops, “You will have to go up through the water tunnel to get those Jebusites. I hate people like themt who can't walk or see.”
That's why there is still a rule that says, “Only people who can walk and see are allowed in the temple.”t
David captured the fortress on Mount Zion, then he moved there and named it David's City. He had the city rebuilt, starting with the landfill to the east.

10 David became a great and strong ruler, because the [Lord] All-Powerful was on his side.

11 King Hiram of Tyre sent some officials to David. Carpenters and stone workers came with them, and they brought cedar logs so they could build David a palace.

12 David knew that the [Lord] had made him king of Israel and that he had made him a powerful ruler for the good of his people.

David's Sons Born //in Jerusalem

(1 Chronicles 14.3-7)

16 Elishama, Eliada, t and Eliphelet.

David Fights the Philistines

(1 Chronicles 14.8-17)

18 So the Philistines camped in Rephaim Valley.t

19 David asked the [Lord], “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you let me win?”
The [Lord] told David, “Attack! I will let you win.”
20 David attacked the Philistines and defeated them. Then he said, “I watched the [Lord] break through my enemies like a mighty flood.” So he named the place “The Lord Broke Through.”t

21 David and his troops also carried away the idols that the Philistines had left behind.
22 Some time later, the Philistines came back into the hill country and camped in Rephaim Valley.

23 David asked the [Lord] what he should do, and the [Lord] answered:
Don't attack them from the front. Circle around behind and attack from among the balsamt trees.

24 Wait until you hear a sound in the treetops like marching troops. Then attack quickly! That sound will mean I have marched out ahead of you to fight the Philistine army.
25 David obeyed the [Lord] and defeated the Philistines. He even chased them all the way from Geba to the entrance to Gezer.