2 Samuel 5 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Look — we're your own flesh and blood.

Even before this, when Saul was king over us, you were the one actually leading Israel's military campaigns. And Yahweh told you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.'"

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a formal agreement with them there at Hebron, with Yahweh as witness. Then they anointed David as king over Israel.

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he ruled for forty years.

He ruled over Judah from Hebron for seven years and six months, and then he ruled over all Israel and Judah from Jerusalem for thirty-three years.

The king and his men marched on Jerusalem against the Jebusites who lived in that area. The Jebusites taunted David, saying, "You'll never get in here. Even the blind and the lame could keep you out" — because they were sure David couldn't break through.

But David captured the fortress of Zion — that's the City of David.

That day David said, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites, let him go up through the water tunnel to strike down those 'lame and blind' who are enemies of David." That's why people say, "The blind and the lame will not enter the house."

David took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area all around it, from the Millo inward.

David kept getting stronger and more powerful, because Yahweh, God of the heavenly armies, was with him.

Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built David a palace.

And David knew that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel and had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

After he moved from Hebron, David took on more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

These are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, the entire Philistine army went up looking for him. David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.

The Philistines came and spread out across the Valley of Rephaim.

David asked Yahweh, "Should I go attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" Yahweh told David, "Go — because I will absolutely hand the Philistines over to you."

So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there. He said, "Yahweh has broken through my enemies in front of me, like water breaking through a dam." That's why that place is called Baal-perazim.

The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.

The Philistines came back up again and spread out across the Valley of Rephaim.

David asked Yahweh, and this time he said, "Don't go straight up. Circle around behind them and come at them from the other side, near the balsam trees.

When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly — that will be the signal that Yahweh has gone out ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army."

David did exactly what Yahweh commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.