^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 ¹out and in. And the LORD said to you, ‘^bYou will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ^ca leader 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 in Hebron; then ^bthey anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was ^athirty years old when he became king, and ^bhe reigned for forty years. 5 At Hebron ^ahe reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned for 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 even those who are blind and those who limp will turn you away,” ²thinking, “David cannot enter here.” 7 Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is, ^athe city of David. 8 And David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites is to reach those who limp and those who are blind, who are hated by David’s soul, through the water tunnel.” For that reason they say, “People who are blind and people who limp 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 armies was with him.

11 ^aThen Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, carpenters, and ¹stonemasons; and ^bthey built a house for David. 12 And David realized that the LORD had appointed 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 Now 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 about it, he went down to the ^bstronghold. 18 Now the Philistines came and overran ^athe Valley of Rephaim. 19 So ^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 the Philistines over to you.” 20 Then 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 And the Philistines abandoned their idols there, so ^aDavid and his men carried them away.

22 Now ^athe Philistines came up once again and overran the Valley of Rephaim. 23 So ^aDavid inquired of the LORD, but He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the baka-shrubs. 24 And it shall be, when ^ayou hear the sound of marching in the tops of the baka-shrubs, then you shall ¹act 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; he struck and killed the Philistines from ^1aGeba ²as 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 out and brought in Israel; and Yahweh 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 ^acut a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; then ^bthey anointed David king over Israel. 4 Now 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 ^aThen 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 fortress of Zion, that is ^athe city of David. 8 And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike down 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 Then David lived in the fortress and called it ^athe city of David. And David built all around from the ^1bMillo and inward. 10 ^aAnd David became greater and greater, and Yahweh, the God of hosts, was with him.

11 ^aThen Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees and craftsmen of wood and craftsmen of stone walls; and ^bthey built a house for David. 12 Thus David knew that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel, and that He had lifted up his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

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

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