1 T hen all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and spoke, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

2 P reviously, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and in. And the Lord said to you, ‘ You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a ruler over Israel.’”

In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and in. Yahweh said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be prince over Israel.’”

3 S o all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them before the Lord at Hebron; then they anointed David king over Israel.

So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over Israel.

4 D avid was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.

David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

5 A t Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

6 N ow the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, and they said to David, “You shall not come in here, but the blind and lame will turn you away”; thinking, “David cannot enter here.”

The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “The blind and the lame will keep you out of here”; thinking, “David can’t come in here.”

7 N evertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is the city of David.

Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. This is David’s city.

8 D avid 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.”

David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him go up to the watercourse and strike the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame can’t come into the house.”

9 S o David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward.

David lived in the stronghold, and called it David’s city. David built around from Millo and inward.

10 D avid became greater and greater, for the Lord God of hosts was with him.

David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh, the God of Armies, was with him.

11 T hen Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees and carpenters and stonemasons; and they built a house for David.

Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, with cedar trees, carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.

12 A nd 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.

David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.

13 M eanwhile David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David.

David took more concubines and wives for himself out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David.

14 N ow these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

15 I bhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

16 E lishama, Eliada and Eliphelet. War with the Philistines

Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

17 W hen the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek out David; and when David heard of it, he went down to the stronghold.

When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.

18 N ow the Philistines came and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim.

Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

19 T hen David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.”

David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?” Yahweh said to David, “Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

20 S o David came to Baal-perazim and defeated them there; and he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore he named that place Baal-perazim.

David came to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there. Then he said, “Yahweh has broken my enemies before me, like the breach of waters.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.

21 T hey abandoned their idols there, so David and his men carried them away.

They left their images there; and David and his men took them away.

22 N ow the Philistines came up once again and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim.

The Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

23 W hen David inquired of the Lord, He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.

When David inquired of Yahweh, he said, “You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and attack them in front of the mulberry trees.

24 I t shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the Lord will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”

When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then stir yourself up; for then Yahweh has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”

25 T hen David did so, just as the Lord had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.

David did so, as Yahweh commanded him, and struck the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.