1 A nd all the tribes of Israel come unto David, to Hebron, and speak, saying, `Lo, we thy bone and thy flesh;

Then all the families of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “See, we are your bone and your flesh.

2 a lso heretofore, in Saul's being king over us, thou hast been he who is bringing out and bringing in Israel, and Jehovah saith to thee, Thou dost feed My people Israel, and thou art for leader over Israel.'

When Saul was our king, you were the one who led Israel out and in. The Lord said to you, ‘You will be the shepherd of My people Israel. You will be a ruler over Israel.’”

3 A nd all the elders of Israel come unto the king, to Hebron, and king David maketh with them a covenant in Hebron before Jehovah, and they anoint David for king over Israel.

So all the leaders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. And there King David made an agreement with them before the Lord. Then they chose David to be the king of Israel.

4 A son of thirty years David in his being king; forty years he hath reigned;

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he ruled for forty years.

5 i n Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years, over all Israel and Judah.

He ruled over Judah seven years and six months at Hebron. Then he ruled in Jerusalem thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. David Takes Jerusalem

6 A nd the king goeth, and his men, to Jerusalem, unto the Jebusite, the inhabitant of the land, and they speak to David, saying, `Thou dost not come in hither, except thou turn aside the blind and the lame;' saying, `David doth not come in hither.'

Now the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the people living in the land. They said to David, “You will not come here. Even those who cannot see or walk could stop you.” They thought that David could not come here.

7 A nd David captureth the fortress of Zion, it the city of David.

But David took the strong place of Zion, that is, the city of David.

8 A nd David saith on that day, `Any one smiting the Jebusite, (let him go up by the watercourse), and the lame and the blind -- the hated of David's soul,' -- because the blind and lame say, `He doth not come into the house.'

David said on that day, “Whoever would kill the Jebusites, let him go up through the hole where the water flows, to those who cannot walk or see and who are hated by David’s soul.” So it is said, “Those who cannot see or walk will not come to the house.”

9 A nd David dwelleth in the fortress, and calleth it -- City of David, and David buildeth round about, from Millo and inward,

David lived in the strong place and called it the city of David. He built all around it from Millo toward the center.

10 a nd David goeth, going on and becoming great, and Jehovah, God of Hosts, with him.

David became greater and greater, for the Lord God of All was with him.

11 A nd Hiram king of Tyre sendeth messengers unto David, and cedar-trees, and artificers of wood, and artificers of stone, for walls, and they build a house for David,

Hiram king of Tyre sent men to David with cedar trees and men who build with wood and stone. And they built a house for David.

12 a nd David knoweth that Jehovah hath established him for king over Israel, and that He hath lifted up his kingdom, because of His people Israel.

David understood that the Lord had made him the king of Israel, and that the Lord had given honor to David’s rule because of His people Israel.

13 A nd David taketh again concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after his coming from Hebron, and there are born again to David sons and daughters.

David took more wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron. And more sons and daughters were born to him.

14 A nd these the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

The names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem were Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

15 a nd Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

16 a nd Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet. David Wins the Battle over the Philistines

17 A nd the Philistines hear that they have anointed David for king over Israel, and all the Philistines come up to seek David, and David heareth, and goeth down unto the fortress,

When the Philistines heard that David had been chosen to be king of Israel, all the Philistines went up to find him. When David heard of it, he went down to the strong place.

18 a nd the Philistines have come, and are spread out in the valley of Rephaim.

The Philistines came and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim.

19 A nd David asketh of Jehovah, saying, `Do I go up unto the Philistines? dost Thou give them into my hand?' And Jehovah saith unto David, `Go up, for I certainly give the Philistines into thy hand.'

Then David asked the Lord, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for it is sure that I will give the Philistines into your hand.”

20 A nd David cometh in to Baal-Perazim, and David smiteth them there, and saith, `Jehovah hath broken forth mine enemies before me, as the breaking forth of waters;' therefore he hath called the name of that place Baal-Perazim.

So David came to Baal-perazim and beat them there in battle. He said, “The Lord has broken through those who hate me like the breaking through of a flood.” So he gave that place the name Baal-perazim.

21 A nd they forsake there their idols, and David and his men lift them up.

The Philistines left their false gods there, and David and his men carried them away.

22 A nd the Philistines add again to come up, and are spread out in the valley of Rephaim,

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

23 a nd David asketh of Jehovah, and He saith, `Thou dost not go up, turn round unto their rear, and thou hast come to them over-against the mulberries,

David asked the Lord what he should do. And the Lord said, “Do not go up, but go around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.

24 a nd it cometh to pass, in thy hearing the sound of a stepping in the tops of the mulberries, then thou dost move sharply, for then hath Jehovah gone out before thee to smite in the camp of the Philistines.'

When you hear the sound of their steps in the tops of the balsam trees, then hurry to fight, for then the Lord will have gone out before you to destroy the Philistine army.”

25 A nd David doth so, as Jehovah commanded him, and smiteth the Philistines from Geba unto thy coming to Gazer.

David did just as the Lord told him. He killed the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.