CHAPTER 5
Then all
the tribes
of Israel
came
to
David
at Hebron
and said,
“Here
we are,
your own flesh
and blood.
Even
in times past,
while Saul
was
king
over us,
you
were the one
who led Israel out
and brought them back.
And to you
the LORD
said,
‘You
will shepherd
My people
Israel,
and you
will be
ruler
over
them.'"
So all
the elders
of Israel
came
to
the king
at Hebron,
where
King
David
made
with them
a covenant
before
the LORD.
And they anointed
him
king
over
Israel.
In Hebron
he reigned
over
Judah
seven
years
and six
months,
and in Jerusalem
he reigned
thirty-three
years
over
all
Israel
and Judah.
Now 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.”
On that
day
he
said,
“Whoever attacks
the Jebusites
must use the water shaft
to reach
the lame
and blind
who are despised
by David.”
That is why
it is said,
“The blind
and the lame
will never
enter
the palace.”
So 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
inward.
King
Hiram
of Tyre
sent
envoys
to
David,
along with cedar
logs,
carpenters,
and stonemasons,
and they built
a palace
for David.
And David
realized
that
the LORD
had established
him as king
over
Israel
and had exalted
his kingdom
for the sake of
His people
Israel.
After
he had arrived
from Hebron,
David
took
more
concubines
and wives
from Jerusalem,
and more
sons
and daughters
were born
to him.
When 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.
So David
inquired
of the LORD,
“Should I go up
against
the Philistines?
Will You deliver them
into my hand?”
“Go,”
replied
the LORD,
“for
I will surely deliver
the Philistines
into your hand.”
So 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.
So 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.
As soon as
you hear
the sound
of marching
in the tops
of the balsam trees,
move quickly,
because
this will mean
the LORD
has marched out
before you
to strike
the camp
of the Philistines.”
So David
did
as
the LORD
had commanded him,
and he struck down
the Philistines
all the way from Geba
to
Gezer.