^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.