1Then allthe tribesof Israelcameto Davidat Hebronand said,"Behold,we are your boneand your flesh.2"Previously,when Saulwas kingoverus, you were the one who ledIsraelout and in. And the LORDsaidto you, 'You will shepherdMy peopleIsrael,and you will be a ruleroverIsrael.'"3So allthe eldersof Israelcameto the kingat Hebron,and KingDavidmadea covenantwith them beforethe LORDat Hebron;then they anointedDavidkingoverIsrael.4Davidwas thirtyyearsoldwhen he becameking,[and] he reignedfortyyears.5At Hebronhe reignedoverJudahsevenyearsand sixmonths,and in Jerusalemhe reignedthirty-threeyearsoverallIsraeland Judah.
6Now the kingand his menwentto Jerusalemagainstthe Jebusites,the inhabitantsof the land,and they saidto David,"You shall not comein here,but the blindand lamewill turnyou away";thinking,"Davidcannotenterhere."7Nevertheless, Davidcapturedthe strongholdof Zion,that is the cityof David.8Davidsaidon that day,"Whoeverwould strikethe Jebusites,let him reachthe lameand the blind,who are hatedby David'ssoul,through the watertunnel."Thereforethey say,"The blindor the lameshall not comeinto the house."9So Davidlivedin the strongholdand calledit the cityof David.And Davidbuiltallaroundfrom the Milloand inward.10Davidbecamegreaterand greater,for the LORDGodof hostswas with him.
11Then Hiramkingof Tyresentmessengersto Davidwith cedartreesand carpentersand stonemasons;and they builta housefor David.12And Davidrealizedthat the LORDhad establishedhim as kingoverIsrael,and that He had exaltedhis kingdomfor the sakeof His peopleIsrael.
13Meanwhile Davidtookmoreconcubinesand wivesfrom Jerusalem,afterhe camefrom Hebron;and moresonsand daughterswere bornto David.14Now theseare the namesof those whowere bornto him in Jerusalem:Shammua,Shobab,Nathan,Solomon,15Ibhar,Elishua,Nepheg,Japhia,16Elishama,Eliadaand Eliphelet.
17When the Philistinesheardthat they had anointedDavidkingoverIsrael,allthe Philistineswentup to seekout David;and when Davidheard[of it], he wentdownto the stronghold.18Now the Philistinescameand spreadthemselves out in the valleyof Rephaim.19Then Davidinquiredof the LORD,saying,"Shall I goup againstthe Philistines?Will You givethem into my hand?"And the LORDsaidto David,"Goup, for I will certainlygivethe Philistinesinto your hand."20So Davidcameto Baal-perazimand defeatedthem there;and he said,"The LORDhas brokenthroughmy enemiesbeforeme like the breakthroughof waters."Thereforehe namedthat placeBaal-perazim.21They abandonedtheir idolsthere,so Davidand his mencarriedthem away.
22Now the Philistinescameup onceagainand spreadthemselves out in the valleyof Rephaim.23When Davidinquiredof the LORD,He said,"You shall not go[directly] up; circlearoundbehindthem and comeat them in frontof the balsamtrees.24"It shall be, when you hearthe soundof marchingin the topsof the balsamtrees,thenyou shall actpromptly,for thenthe LORDwill have goneout beforeyou to strikethe armyof the Philistines."25Then Daviddidso,justas the LORDhad commandedhim, and struckdownthe Philistinesfrom Gebaas faras Gezer.
