^aThen ¹all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are ^byour bone and your flesh. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was ^ayou who led Israel out to war and brought Israel in from battle. And the LORD told you, ‘^bYou shall shepherd My people Israel and be ^cruler over them.’” 1+@Sam 15:27-29; 16:1 3 So all the elders (tribal leaders) of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David ^amade a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD; and ^bthey anointed him king over Israel. 4 David was ^athirty years old when he became king, and ^bhe reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron ^ahe reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

6 ^aNow the king and his men went to ^bJerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You shall not enter here, for the blind and the lame even the weakest among us will turn you away”; they thought, “David cannot come in here because the walls are impenetrable.” 7 Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold (fortress) of Zion, that is, ^athe City of David. 8 Then David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him go up through the underground water shaft to strike the lame and the blind, who are detested by David’s soul because of their arrogance.” So for that reason they say, “The blind or the lame (Jebusites) shall not come into the royal house of Israel.” 1+@Chr 11:6 9 So David lived in the stronghold and called it ^athe City of David. And he built all around the surrounding area from the ^1bMillo fortification and inward. 10 ^aDavid became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts (armies) , was with him.

11 ^aNow Hiram the king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, carpenters, and stonemasons; and ^bthey built a house (palace) for David. 12 And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for His people Israel’s sake.

13 ^aDavid took more ¹concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 And ^athese are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, ^aall the Philistines went up to look for him, but he heard about it and went down to the ^1bstronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out for battle in ^athe Valley of Rephaim. 19 ^aDavid inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You hand them over to me?” And ^bthe LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly hand them over to you.” 20 So David came to ^aBaal-perazim, and he defeated them there, and said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” So he named that place Baal-perazim (master of breakthroughs) . 21 The Philistines abandoned their pagan idols there, so ^aDavid and his men took them away to be burned.

22 ^aThe Philistines came up once again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 When ^aDavid inquired of the LORD, He said, “You shall not go up, but circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. 24 And when ^ayou hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall pay attention and act promptly, for at that time ^bthe LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” 25 David did just as the LORD had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from ^aGeba as far as ^bGezer.

^aThen all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and ¹said, “Behold, we are ^byour bone and your flesh. 2 Previously, when Saul was king over us, ^ayou were the one who led Israel out and in. And the LORD said to you, ‘^bYou will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ^ca ruler over Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David ^amade a covenant with them before the LORD at Hebron; then ^bthey anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was ^athirty years old when he became king, and ^bhe reigned forty years. 5 At Hebron ^ahe reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

6 ^aNow the king and his men went to ^bJerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, and they said to ¹David, “You shall not come in here, but the blind and lame will turn you away”; ²thinking, “David cannot enter here.” 7 Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is ^athe city of David. 8 David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him reach the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul, through the water tunnel.” Therefore they say, “The blind or the lame shall not come into the house.” 9 So David lived in the stronghold and called it ^athe city of David. And David built all around from the ^1bMillo and inward. 10 ^aDavid became greater and greater, for the LORD God of hosts was with him.

11 ^aThen Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees and carpenters and stonemasons; and ^bthey built a house for David. 12 And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

13 Meanwhile ^aDavid took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 Now ^athese are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

17 When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, ^aall the Philistines went up to seek out David; and when David heard of it, he went down to the ^bstronghold. 18 Now the Philistines came and spread themselves out in ^athe valley of Rephaim. 19 Then ^aDavid inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?” And ^bthe LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 20 So David came to ^aBaal-perazim and ¹defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore he named that place ²Baal-perazim. 21 They abandoned their idols there, so ^aDavid and his men carried them away.

22 Now ^athe Philistines came up once again and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim. 23 When ^aDavid inquired of the LORD, He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the ¹balsam trees. 24 It shall be, when ^ayou hear the sound of marching in the tops of the ¹balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then ^bthe LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” 25 Then David did so, just as the LORD had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from ^1aGeba ²as far as ^bGezer.