¹Then 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 . The LORD 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 the LORD ; 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 the LORD , 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 the LORD 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 enquired of 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 certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand .”

²⁰David came to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there . Then he said , “The LORD has broken my enemies before me , like the breach of waters .” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.[#5:20 “Baal Perazim” means “Lord who breaks out”.]

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 enquired of the LORD , 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 the LORD has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines .”

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