David Anointed King over All Israel
5 1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Here we are — your own flesh and blood." 2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them home. And our Father said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be ruler over Israel.'
3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before our Father, and they anointed David king over Israel.
4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 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.
David Conquers Jerusalem
6 Then the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, who lived in the land. They taunted David, "You will never get in here; even the blind and the lame can turn you back" — for they thought, "David cannot get in here."
7 Nevertheless David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.
8 On that day David said, "Whoever strikes down a Jebusite must reach the water shaft to strike the lame and the blind, those whom David's soul hates." That is why they say, "The blind and the lame will not enter the house." 1 1 v8 The water shaft was a vertical tunnel connecting the city above to its underground water supply — a possible route for infiltrating Jerusalem.
9 And David settled in the stronghold and called it the city of David. He built up the area all around, from the Millo inward. 2 2 v9 The Millo was a large supporting terrace or earthwork that formed part of Jerusalem's existing defenses. 10 And David grew greater and greater, for our Father, the God of heaven's armies, was with him.
11 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.
David's Household Grows in Jerusalem
12 And David knew that our Father had established him as king over Israel, and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
13 After he came from Hebron, David 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, and Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
Two Victories over the Philistines
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all marched up to search for him. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold.
18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out across the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David inquired of our Father, "Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" And our Father answered David, "Go ahead, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you."
20 So David went to Baal-perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "Our Father has burst through my enemies before me like a bursting flood." That is why he named that place Baal-perazim. 3 3 v20 Baal-perazim means "master of breakthroughs" — David named the place because our Father burst through his enemies there like a flood breaking loose. 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out across the Valley of Rephaim. 23 When David inquired of our Father, he answered, "Do not go straight up. Circle around behind them and come at them opposite the balsam trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, for then your Father will have gone out ahead of you to strike down the camp of the Philistines."
25 So David did exactly as our Father had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.