| English Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 1Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. | 1Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood. |
| 2In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’” | 2In the past, 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.’” |
| 3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. | 3So there at Hebron, King David made a covenant before the LORD with all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel. |
| 4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. | 4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in all. |
| 5At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. | 5He 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 |
| 6And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” | 6David 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. |
| 7Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. | 7But David captured the fortress of Zion, which is now called the City of David. |
| 8And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” | 8On the day of the attack, David said to his troops, “I hate those ‘lame’ and ‘blind’ Jebusites. Whoever attacks them should strike by going into the city through the water tunnel. ” That is the origin of the saying, “The blind and the lame may not enter the house.” |
| 9And David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built the city all around from the Millo inward. | 9So David made the fortress his home, and he called it the City of David. He extended the city, starting at the supporting terraces and working inward. |
| 10And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him. | 10And David became more and more powerful, because the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies was with him. |
| 11And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house. | 11Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar timber and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built David a palace. |
| 12And David knew that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. | 12And David realized that the LORD had confirmed him as king over Israel and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. |
| 13And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David. | 13After moving from Hebron to Jerusalem, David married more concubines and wives, and they had more sons and daughters. |
| 14And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, | 14These are the names of David’s sons who were born in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, |
| 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, | 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, |
| 16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. | 16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. David Conquers the Philistines |
| 17When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. | 17When 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. |
| 18Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. | 18The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. |
| 19And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” | 19So 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.” |
| 20And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. | 20So 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”). |
| 21And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away. | 21The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so David and his men confiscated them. |
| 22And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. | 22But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. |
| 23And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. | 23And 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 poplar trees. |
| 24And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” | 24When 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.” |
| 25And David did as the LORD commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer. | 25So David did what the LORD commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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