Second Book of Samuel 5

¹ All the tribes of Israel then came to David at Hebron. ‘Look’ they said ‘we are your own flesh and blood.

² In days past when Saul was our king, it was you who led Israel in all their exploits; and Yahweh said to you, “You are the man who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you shall be the leader of Israel”.’

³ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a pact with them at Hebron in the presence of Yahweh, and they anointed David king of Israel.

⁴ David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years.

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

⁶ David and his men marched on Jerusalem against the Jebusites living there. These said to David, ‘You will not get in here. The blind and the lame will hold you off.’ (That is to say: David will never get in here.)

⁷ But David captured the fortress of Zion, that is, the Citadel of David.

⁸ That day David said, ‘Whoever strikes the Jebusites and goes up by the conduit. . .’ As for the blind and the lame, David hated them in his soul. (Hence the saying: the blind and the lame shall not enter the Temple.)

⁹ David went to live in the fortress and called it the Citadel of David. David then built a wall round it, from the Millo going inwards.

¹⁰ David grew greater and greater, and Yahweh, God of Sabaoth, was with him.

¹¹ Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David with cedar wood and carpenters and stonemasons, who built David a palace.

¹² David then knew that Yahweh had confirmed him as king over Israel, and for the sake of his people Israel was making his reign glorious.

¹³ After coming from Hebron, David took other concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and sons and daughters were born to him.

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

¹⁵ Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

¹⁶ Elishama, Eliada, Eliphelet.

¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of all Israel, they all marched up to seek him out. On hearing this, David went down to the stronghold[*a]

¹⁸ When the Philistines arrived they deployed in the Valley of the Rephaim.

¹⁹ David consulted Yahweh; ‘Shall I attack the Philistines?’ he asked. ‘Will you deliver them into my power?’ Yahweh answered David, ‘Attack! I will most surely deliver the Philistines into your power.’

²⁰ Accordingly David went to Baal-perazim and there defeated them. David said, ‘Yahweh has made a breach in my enemies for me like a breach the waters make’. For this reason that place was called Baal-perazim.

²¹ They had left their gods behind them there, and David and his men carried them off.

²² Again the Philistines marched up and deployed in the Valley of the Rephaim.

²³ David consulted Yahweh, who answered, ‘Do not attack them from the front; go round to their rear and engage them opposite the balsam trees.

²⁴ When you hear the sound of steps in the tops of the balsam trees, advance, for that will be Yahweh going out ahead of you to rout the army of the Philistines.’

²⁵ David did as Yahweh had ordered and routed the Philistines from Gibeon as far as the Pass of Gezer.