Shmuel II - Chapter 5

1. And all the tribes of Israel came to David to Hebron, and spoke, saying: "Here we are. We are your bone and your flesh.

2. Also, in times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and brought them in, and the Lord said to you, you shall shepherd my nation Israel, and you shall be a ruler over Israel.

3. And all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and King David enacted a covenant for them in Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David as King over Israel.

4. Thirty years old was David when he became king, and forty years did he reign.

5. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty three years over all Israel and Judah.

6. And the king and his men went to Jerusalem to the Jebusite[s], the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying: 'you shall not come here unless you remove the blind and the lame'; as if to say: 'David shall not come here.'

7. And David conquered the stronghold of Zion which is the city of David.

8. And David said on that day; "Whoever smites the Jebusites and reaches the tower, and [removes] the lame and the blind, despised by the soul of David." Therefore they say; "The blind and the lame shall not come into the house."

9. And David dwelt in the stronghold and he called it the city of David. And David built round about from the mound and inward.

10. And David grew steadily greater, and the Lord the God of Hosts [was] with him.

11. And Hiram, King of Tyre, sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees, and carpenters, and stone-masons [for the building] of a wall, and they built a house for David.

12. And David perceived that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

13. And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after his coming from Hebron. And there were born to David more sons and daughters.

14. And these are the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobav, and Nathan, and Solomon.

15. And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia.

16. And Elishama, and Elyada, and Eliphalet.

17. And the Philistines heard that they anointed David as king over Israel, and all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard [of it] and went down to the stronghold.

18. And the Philistines came and spread out in the valley of Rephaim.

19. And David inquired of the Lord saying: 'Shall I go up to the Philistines? will you deliver them into my hand?' And the Lord said unto David: 'Go up; for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.'

20. And David came to Baal-peratzim, and David smote them there; and he said: 'The Lord has broken mine enemies before me, like the breach of waters.' Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-peratzim.

21. And they forsook there their images, and David and his men burned them.

22. And the Philistines came up once again and spread out in the valley of Rephaim.

23. And David inquired of the Lord, and He said: 'Do not go up; circle in back of them, and come upon them from against the mulberry trees.

24. And it shall be, when you hear the sound of steps in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall bestir yourself; for then the Lord has gone out before you to smite the camp of the Philistines.'

25. And David did so, as the Lord commanded him, and he smote the Philistines from Geva until you come to Gezer.