1 ¶ Now Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house.

Now King Hiram of Tyre sent men with cedar trees to David. With them came men who worked with stone and wood. They came to build a house for him.

2 A nd David, understanding that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel and had lifted up his kingdom above his people Israel,

David understood that the Lord had made him to be king of Israel. He knew that his nation was very honored because of God’s people Israel.

3 t ook more wives at Jerusalem; and David begat more sons and daughters.

Then David took more wives at Jerusalem. He became the father of more sons and daughters.

4 N ow these are the names of his children which were born unto him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

The names of the children born to him in Jerusalem are Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

5 I bhar, Elishua, Elpalet,

Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

6 N ogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

7 E lishama, Beeliada, and Eliphalet.

Elishama, Beeliada and Eliphelet. Battle with the Philistines

8 ¶ And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it and went out against them.

The Philistines heard that David had been chosen as king of all Israel. So they went up to look for him. David heard of it and went out against them.

9 A nd the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

Now the Philistines had come to fight a surprise battle in the valley of Rephaim.

10 A nd David enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the LORD said unto him, Go up, for I will deliver them into thy hands.

David asked God, “Should I go fight against the Philistines? Will You give them to me?” And the Lord said to him, “Go, for I will give them to you.”

11 S o they came up to Baalperazim, and David smote them there. Then David said, God has broken in upon my enemies by my hand like the breaking forth of waters. Therefore, they called the name of that place Baalperazim.

So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David won the battle against them there. David said, “By my hand God has broken through those who hate me, like the breaking through of a flood.” So they gave that place the name Baal-perazim.

12 A nd they left their gods there, and David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.

The Philistines left their gods there. So David had them burned with fire.

13 A nd the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley.

The Philistines fought another surprise battle in the valley.

14 T herefore, David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Do not go up after them; go around them to come upon them over against the mulberry trees;

So David asked God again what he should do. God said to him, “Do not go after them. Go around behind them, and come upon them in front of the balsam trees.

15 a nd it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle; for God shall go forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.

When you hear the sound of their steps in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle. For God will have gone out before you to destroy the Philistine army.”

16 D avid, therefore, did as God commanded him, and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer.

David did just as God had told him, and they destroyed the Philistine army from Gibeon as far as Gezer.

17 A nd the fame of David went out into all those lands, and the LORD put the fear of him upon all the Gentiles.

Then the name of David became known in all the lands. The Lord brought the fear of him upon all the nations.