2 Samuel 5

Chapter 5

David Becomes King of All Israel

1 Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood.

2 In the past,t when Saul was our king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the LORD told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be Israel’s leader.’”

3 So there at Hebron, King David made a covenant before the LORD with all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel.
4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in all.

5 He had reigned over Judah from Hebron for seven years and six months, and from Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.

David Captures Jerusalem

6 David then led his men to Jerusalem to fight against the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of the land who were living there. The Jebusites taunted David, saying, “You’ll never get in here! Even the blind and lame could keep you out!” For the Jebusites thought they were safe.

7 But David captured the fortress of Zion, which is now called the City of David.

8 On the day of the attack, David said to his troops, “I hate those ‘lame’ and ‘blind’ Jebusites.t Whoever attacks them should strike by going into the city through the water tunnel.t” That is the origin of the saying, “The blind and the lame may not enter the house.”t
9 So David made the fortress his home, and he called it the City of David. He extended the city, starting at the supporting terracest and working inward.

10 And David became more and more powerful, because the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies was with him.
11 Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar timber and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built David a palace.

12 And David realized that the LORD had confirmed him as king over Israel and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
13 After moving from Hebron to Jerusalem, David married more concubines and wives, and they had more sons and daughters.14 These are the names of David’s sons who were born in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

David Conquers the Philistines

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he went into the stronghold.18 The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim.

19 So David asked the LORD, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”
The LORD replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”
20 So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “The LORD did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”).

21 The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so David and his men confiscated them.
22 But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim.23 And again David asked the LORD what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the LORD replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplart trees.24 When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the LORD is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.”

25 So David did what the LORD commanded, 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.