2 Samuel 5

VIN(i) 1 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said to him: "We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and in. the LORD said to you, 'You will be shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be prince over Israel.'” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 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 The king and his men went to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived in that region. The Jebusites told David: "You will never get in here. Even the blind and the lame could turn you away. In other words he could not enter there." 7 David captured the fortress of Zion, the city of David. 8 At that time, David had said, "Whoever intends to attack the Jebusites will have to climb up the water shaft to attack the lame and blind, who hate David." Therefore they say, "The blind and lame shall never come into the house." 9 David occupied the fortress, naming it the City of David. He built up the surroundings from the terrace ramparts inward. 10 David continued to grow more powerful because the LORD God of Hosts was with him. 11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar wood, and carpenters, and stone masons; and they built a house for David. 12 And David felt conscious that the Lord has established him as king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 13 David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 These 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, all the Philistines went up to seek David, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come, and they spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 David asked the LORD: "Shall I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" the LORD answered David: "Attack! I will certainly deliver the Philistines to you." 20 And David came to Baal Pharisim: and defeated them there, and he said, The Lord hath divided my enemies before me, as waters are divided. Therefore the name of the place was called Baal Pharisim. 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his army carried them off. 22 Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 When David inquired of the LORD, he said, “You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and attack them in front of the mulberry trees. 24 When you hear the sound of marching coming from the tops of the balsam trees, then be sure to act quickly, since the LORD will have gone out ahead of you to cut down the Philistine army. 25 David did so, as the LORD commanded him, and struck the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.