[1] Then came all the tribes of Israel to David to Hebron, and spoke,
saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. [2] In times past, when
Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel: and
Yahweh said to you, You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you
shall 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
Yahweh: 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 against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land,
who spoke to David, saying, Except you take away the blind and the lame,
you shall not come in here; thinking, David can`t come in here. [7]
Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of
David. [8] David said on that day, Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him
get up to the watercourse, and [strike] the lame and the blind, who are
hated of David`s soul. Why they say, There are the blind and the lame; he
can`t come into the house. [9] David lived in the stronghold, and called it
the city of David. David built round about from Millo and inward. [10]
David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh, the God of hosts, was with him.
[11] Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees, and
carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house. [12] David perceived
that Yahweh had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted
his kingdom for his people Israel`s sake. [13] David took him more
concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron; and
there were yet sons and daughters born to David. [14] These are the names
of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and
Nathan, and Solomon, [15] and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
[16] and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet. [17] When the Philistines
heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines
went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the
stronghold. [18] Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the
valley of Rephaim. [19] 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] David came to Baal-perazim, and David struck them there; and 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] They left
their images there; and David and his men took them away. [22] The
Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of
Rephaim. [23] When David inquired of Yahweh, he said, You shall not go up:
make a circuit behind them, and come on them over against the
mulberry-trees. [24] It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in
the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then you shall bestir yourself; for
then is Yahweh gone out before you to strike the host of the Philistines.
[25] David did so, as Yahweh commanded him, and struck the Philistines from
Geba until you come to Gezer.
