5:1 All the tribes of Israel then came to David at Hebron saying, “We are your own bone and flesh. 5:2 Previously when Saul was our king you were the one who was leading Israel out and bringing her in. The LORD said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel; you will be leader over Israel.’”

5:3 Then all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and king David established with them a covenant in Hebron in the presence of the LORD. They anointed David as king over Israel. 5:4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for forty years. 5:5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years, and in Jerusalem he reigned for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

5:6 Then the king and his men advanced to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. But the Jebusites¹ said to David, “You cannot enter here. Even the blind and the lame will turn you back saying, ‘David cannot enter here!’”

5:7 However, David captured the fortress of Zion—it is the city of David. 5:8 David said on that day, “Let anyone who would overcome the Jebusites approach the lame and the blind who are David’s enemies² by the water shaft.”³ For this reason it is said, “The blind and the lame cannot enter into the sanctuary.”

5:9 So David settled in the fortress and called it the city of David. David built all around, from Millo inwards. 5:10 And David continued consolidating his power, and the LORD God⁴ of hosts was with him.

5:11 Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar wood, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a palace for David. 5:12 David was aware of the fact that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 5:13 David took still more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after his coming from Hebron. And still more sons and daughters were born to David. 5:14 These are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5:15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 5:16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

5:17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went up to look for David. But David had heard and had gone down to the fortress. 5:18 Now the Philistines had come and had fanned out in the valley of Rephaim. 5:19 So David asked the LORD saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?” The LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will in fact deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

5:20 So David went up to Baal Perazim and he defeated them there saying, “The LORD has broken forth against my enemies like waters break forth.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 5:21 They left their idols⁵ there, and David and his men picked them up.

5:22 Then the Philistines again came up and fanned out in the valley of Rephaim. 5:23 So David asked the LORD what to do.⁶ But this time⁷ he said to him, “Do not go up. Rather, go around behind them and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 5:24 When you hear a marching sound in the tops of the balsam trees, act decisively. For at that moment the LORD will have gone before you to defeat the camp of the Philistines.” 5:25 So David did just as the LORD had instructed him. And he defeated the Philistines from Gibeon to as far as Gezer.