1 NOW ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL came to David at Hebron and said to him, 'We are your own flesh and blood. 2In the past, while Saul was still king over us, you led the forces of Israel to war and you brought them home again. And the LORD said to you, "You shall be shepherd of my people Israel; you shall be their prince." ' 3All the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; there David made a covenant with them before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4David came to the throne at the age of thirty and reigned for forty years. 5In Hebron he had ruled over Judah for seven years and a half, and for thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem over Israel and Judah together.
6The king and his men went to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, whose land it was. The Jebusites said to David, 'Never shall you come in here; not till you have disposed of the blind and the lame', meaning that David should never come in. 7None the less David did capture the stronghold of Zion, and it is now known as the City of David. 8David said on that day, 'Everyone who would kill a Jebusite, let him use his grappling-iron to reach the lame and the blind, David's bitter enemies.' That is why they say, 'No blind or lame man shall come into the LORD's house.'
9David took up his residence in the stronghold and called it the City of David. He built the city round it, starting at the Millo and working inwards. 10So David steadily grew stronger, for the LORD the God of Hosts was with him.
11 Hiram king of Tyre sent an embassy to David; he sent cedar logs, and with them carpenters and stonemasons, who built David a house. 12David knew by now that the LORD had confirmed him as king over Israel and had made his royal power stand higher for the sake of his people Israel.
13After he had moved from Hebron he took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem; and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.
17When the Philistines learnt that David had been anointed king over Israel, they came up in force to seek him out. David, hearing of this, took refuge in the stronghold. 18The Philistines had come and overrun the Vale of Rephaim. 19So David inquired of the LORD, 'If I attack the Philistines, wilt thou deliver them into my hands?' And the LORD answered, 'Go, I will deliver the Philistines into your hands.' 20So he went up and attacked them at Baal-perazim and defeated them there. 'The LORD has broken through my enemies' lines,' David said, 'as a river breaks its banks.' That is why the place was named Baal-perazim . 21The Philistines left their idols behind them there, and David and his men carried them off.
22The Philistines made another attack and overran the Vale of Rephaim. 23David inquired of the LORD, who said, 'Do not attack now but wheel round and take them in the rear opposite the aspens. 24As soon as you hear a rustling sound in the tree-tops, then act at once; for the LORD will have gone out before you to defeat the Philistine army.' 25David did as the LORD had commanded, and drove the Philistines in flight all the way from Geba to Gezer.
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