David Anointed King over All Israel
1All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2Even in the past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out to battle and brought them back. Yahweh said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be ruler over Israel.’” 3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made an agreement with them at Hebron before Yahweh, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. 6The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who lived in that land. They said to David, “You will never get in here — even the blind and the lame can keep you out,” thinking, David cannot get in here. 7But David captured the stronghold of Zion — that is, the city of David. 8David said that day, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites, let him go up through the water shaft to strike down the lame and the blind, who hate David with all their heart.” That is why they say, “The blind and the lame will not enter the house.” 9So David took up residence in the stronghold and called it the city of David. He built it up all around, from the Millo inward. 10David kept growing greater and greater, and Yahweh, God of Hosts, was with him. 11Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built David a house. 12Then David knew that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 13David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
David Defeats the Philistines
17When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all came up in search of him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 18The Philistines arrived and spread out through the Valley of Rephaim. 19David inquired of Yahweh, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” Yahweh said to David, “Go up, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you.” 20David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there. He said, “Yahweh has broken through my enemies before me like a bursting flood.” So that place was named Baal-perazim. 21The Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them off. 22The Philistines came up once more and spread out through the Valley of Rephaim. 23David inquired of Yahweh, and he said, “Do not go straight up. Circle around behind them and come at them opposite the balsam trees. 24As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, for then Yahweh will have gone out ahead of you to strike the Philistine army.” 25David did just as Yahweh commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.
