2 Samuel 5:1-19 ▼

1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, saying, |Look, we are your bone and your flesh.

2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. The LORD said to you, 'You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be ruler over Israel.'|

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel.

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

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

6 Then the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, |You will not get in here|For the blind and the lame incited them, saying, |David can't get in here.|

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

8 David said on that day, |Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and strike the lame and the blind, those who hate the soul of David.| Therefore they say, |The blind and the lame can't come into the palace.|

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

10 David grew greater and greater; for the LORD of hosts was with him.

11 Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.

12 And David knew that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.

13 David took more secondary wives and wives out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron; and there were born to David more sons and daughters.

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

15 and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Eliphelet, and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

16 and Elishama, and Baaliada, and Eliphelet.

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold.

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

19 So David inquired of the LORD, asking, |Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?| Then the LORD answered David, |Go up, for I will certainly deliver them into your hand.|