2 Samuel 5

1 And all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said to him, “Look, we are your own bone and your own flesh. 2 Before now, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought Israel in. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be leader over Israel.’” [a] 3 And all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over all Israel.

4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5 Seven years and six months he reigned in Hebron over Judah, and thirty-three years he reigned over all Israel and Judah in Jerusalem.

6 And David and his men went to Jerusalem, to the Jebusite living in the land. And David was told, “You will not come in here.” For the blind and the lame stood against him, saying, “David will not come in here.” 7 And David captured the stronghold of Zion — this is the city of David. [b]

8 And David said that day, “Everyone who strikes down a Jebusite, let him use the dagger on the lame and the blind and on those who hate David’s life.” That is why they say, “The blind and the lame will not come into the house of the Lord.” [c]

9 And David settled in the stronghold, and it was called the city of David. And he built the city all around, starting from the citadel, and he built his own house. 10 And David went on and grew greater and greater, and the Lord Almighty was with him. [d]

11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar wood, and carpenters and stonemasons; and they built a house for David. [e] 12 And David knew that the Lord had made him ready to be king over Israel, and that his kingdom had been raised high for the sake of his people Israel. 13 And David took more wives and concubines from Jerusalem after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David.

14 And these are the names of those 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 — Samae, Jessibath, Nathan, Galamaan, Jebaar, Theesus, Elphalat, Naged, Nepheg, Janatha, Leasamys, Baalimath, Eliphelet. [f]

17 And the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, and all the Philistines went up to look for David. And David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold. 18 And the Philistines came, and gathered in the valley of the Titans. [g] 19 And David asked of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will you give them into my hands?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hands.”

20 And David came from Breaches Above and cut the Philistines down there. And David said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies the Philistines in front of me, the way water breaks through.” That is why the name of that place was called Breaches Above. [h] 21 And they left their gods behind there, and David and the men with him carried them off. [i]

22 And the Philistines came up yet again and gathered in the valley of the Titans. 23 And David asked of the Lord, and the Lord said, “You are not to go up to meet them. Turn away from them, and come at them near the place of weeping. [j] 24 And when you hear the sound of the grove of weeping closing in, then you are to go down to them, for then the Lord will go out ahead of you to cut down in the battle with the Philistines.” 25 And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck the Philistines from Gibeon as far as the land of Gezer. [k]