2Sa 5 | ESV | STEP | Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said , Behold , we are your bone and flesh .

1 Then all the tribes of Israel ^acame to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, ^bwe are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, ^cit was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ^d‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince ^{▼▼Or leader} over Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, ^fand King David made a covenant with them at Hebron ^gbefore the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and ^hhe reigned forty years. 5 ⁱAt Hebron he reigned over Judah ^jseven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. ^{▼▼Dead Sea Scroll lacks verses 4–5}

6 ^lAnd the king and his men went to Jerusalem ^magainst the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 7 Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, ⁿthat is, the city of David. 8 And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” 9 And David lived in the stronghold and called it ^othe city of David. And David built the city all around from the ^pMillo inward. 10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.

11 ^qAnd ^rHiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house. 12 And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

13 And David took more ^sconcubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 ^tAnd these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

David Defeats the Philistines

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down ^uto the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in ^vthe Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David ^winquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” ^xTherefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. ^{▼▼ Baal-perazim means lord of bursting through} 21 And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.

22 And the Philistines came up yet again ^zand spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 ^aaAnd when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 24 And ^abwhen you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, ^acfor then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 25 And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba ^adto Gezer.