II Samuel 5

David Reigns over All Israel

1 Then all the tribes of Israel *2 Sam. 3:32came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, "Indeed *1 Chr. 11:1–3we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, *Gen. 29:14; Judg. 9:2; 2 Sam. 19:12, 13you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord said to you, *1 Sam. 18:5, 13, 16‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ " 3 *1 Sam. 16:1Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, *2 Sam. 3:17; 1 Chr. 11:3and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron *2 Sam. 2:4; 3:21; 2 Kin. 11:17before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was*Judg. 11:11; 1 Sam. 23:18thirty years old when he began to reign, and*Gen. 41:46; Num. 4:3; Luke 3:23he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah *1 Kin. 2:11; 1 Chr. 26:31; 29:27seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

The Conquest of Jerusalem

6 *2 Sam. 2:11; 1 Chr. 3:4; 29:27And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against *Judg. 1:21the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, "You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you," thinking, "David cannot come in here." 7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion *Josh. 15:63; Judg. 1:8; 19:11, 12(that is, the City of David).

8 Now David said on that day, "Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, whoare hated by David’s soul), *2 Sam. 6:12, 16; 1 Kin. 2:10; 8:1; 9:24heshallbechiefandcaptain." Therefore they say, "The blind and the lame shall not come into the house."

9 Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it *1 Chr. 11:6–9the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward. 10 So David went on and became great, and *2 Sam. 5:7; 1 Kin. 9:15, 24the Lord God of hosts was with *1 Sam. 17:45him.

11 Then *1 Sam. 18:12, 28Hiram *1 Kin. 5:1–18king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house. 12 So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had *1 Chr. 14:1exalted His kingdom *Num. 24:7for the sake of His people Israel.

13 And *Is. 45:4David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 Now *(Deut. 17:17); 1 Chr. 3:9these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, *1 Chr. 3:5–8Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

The Philistines Defeated

17 *2 Sam. 12:24Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard ofit*1 Chr. 11:16and went down to the stronghold. 18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in *2 Sam. 23:14the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David *Gen. 14:5; Josh. 15:8; 1 Chr. 11:15; Is. 17:5inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?"

And the Lord said to David, "Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand."

20 So David went to *1 Sam. 23:2; 2 Sam. 2:1Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, "The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water." Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 21 And they left their images there, and David and his men *1 Chr. 14:11; Is. 28:21carried them away.

22 *Deut. 7:5, 25Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 Therefore *1 Chr. 14:13David inquired of the Lord, and He said, "You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. 24 And it shall be, when you *2 Sam. 5:19hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then *2 Kin. 7:6; 1 Chr. 14:15the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines." 25 And David did so, as the Lord commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from *Judg. 4:14Geba as far as *1 Chr. 14:16Gezer.