The Preacher's Bible

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. ²In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and in. Jehovah said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be prince over Israel.’” ³So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Jehovah; and they anointed David king over Israel.

⁴David was thirty years old when he began to reign, 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. ⁶The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “The blind and the lame will keep you out of here,” thinking, “David can’t come in here.” ⁷Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. This is David’s city. ⁸David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him go up to the watercourse and strike those lame and blind, who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame can’t come into the house.”

⁹David lived in the stronghold, and called it David’s city. David built around from Millo and inward. ¹⁰David grew greater and greater, for Jehovah, the God of Armies, was with him. ¹¹Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, with cedar trees, carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house. ¹²David perceived that Jehovah had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake. ¹³David took more concubines and wives for himself out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David. ¹⁴These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, ¹⁵Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, ¹⁶Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

¹⁷When 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. ¹⁸Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

¹⁹David inquired of Jehovah, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?” Jehovah said to David, “Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

²⁰David came to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there. Then he said, “Jehovah has broken my enemies before me, like the breach of waters.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. ²¹They left their images there, and David and his men took them away.

²²The Philistines came up yet again and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. ²³When David inquired of Jehovah, he said, “You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and attack them in front of the mulberry trees. ²⁴When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then stir yourself up; for then Jehovah has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”

²⁵David did so, as Jehovah commanded him, and struck the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.