2 Samuel 5:4-25 ▼

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

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 And 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.”

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

8 and 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.”

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

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

11 And 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.

12 And 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.

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

14 And 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 Nepheg, and Japhia,

16 and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.

17 And 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.

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

19 And 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.”

20 And 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.

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

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

23 And 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.

24 And 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.”

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