2 Samuel 5:4–25

⁴David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. ⁵In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

⁶Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.”

⁷Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). ⁸On that day he said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must use the water shaft to reach the lame and blind who are despised by David.^a” That is why it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the palace.”

⁹So David took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built it up all the way around, from the supporting terraces^b inward. ¹⁰And David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of Hosts was with him.

¹¹Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.

¹²And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

¹³After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. ¹⁴These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua,^c Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, ¹⁵Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, ¹⁶Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

¹⁷When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.

¹⁸Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁹So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”

“Go up,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

²⁰So David went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.” So he called that place Baal-perazim.^{d 21}There the Philistines abandoned their idols, and David and his men carried them away.

²²Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. ²³So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.^{e 24}As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

²⁵So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon^f to Gezer.