David Becomes King over Israel

(1 Chronicles 11:1-3)

1After this, all of the tribes of Israel assembled with David at Hebron and declared, “Look, we’re your own flesh and blood!a 2Even back when Saul was our king, it was you who kept on leading Israel out to battleb and bringing them back again.c The LORD told you, ‘You yourself will shepherd my people Israel and serve as Commander-in-Chiefd over Israel.’” 3So all the elders of Israel approached the king at Hebron, where King David entered into a covenant with them in the presence of the LORD. Then they anointed David to be king over Israel.

David Establishes Jerusalem as His Capital

(1 Chronicles 11:4-9; 14:1-7)

4David began to reign when he was 30 years old, and he reigned 40 years. 5He reigned over Judah for seven years and six months in Hebron, and he reigned over all of Israel including Judah for 33 years in Jerusalem. 6Later, the king and his army marched on Jerusalem against the Jebusites, who were inhabiting the territory at that timee and who had told David, “You’re not coming in here! Even the blind and the lame could turn you away!” because they were thinkingf “David can’t come here.” 7Even so, David captured the stronghold of Zion, which is now known asg the City of David.

8At that time,h David had said, “Whoever intends to attack the Jebusites will have to climb up the water shaft to attack the lame and blind, who hate David.”i

Therefore they say, “The blind and lame are never to come into the house.” 9David occupiedj the fortress, naming it the City of David. Hek built up the surroundings from the terrace rampartsl inward. 10David became more and more esteemed because the LORD God of the Heavenly Armies was with him.

11Later, King Hiram of Tyre sent a delegation to David, accompanied by cedarm logs, carpenters, and stone masons. They built a palace for David. 12So David concludedn that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom in order to benefit his people Israel. 13But after arriving in Jerusalem after leaving Hebron, David took more wives and mistresses,o and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

David Battles the Philistines

(1 Chronicles 14:8-17)

17When the Philistines eventually learned that Israelp had anointed David to be king over Israel, they marched out in search of him.q But David heard about it and retreated to his stronghold. 18Meanwhile, the Philistines arrived and encamped in the Rephaim Valley, 19so David asked the LORD, “Am I to go attack the Philistines? Will you give me victory over them?”r

“Go get them,” the LORD replied to David, “because I’m going to put the Philistines right into your hand!”

20So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there. He called the place Baal-perazim,s because he said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has jumped out in front of me to fight my enemies.” 21The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his army carried them off.

22Later, the Philistines once again marched out and encamped in the Rephaim Valley. 23When David asked the LORD about it, he said, “Don’t attack them directly. Instead, go around to the rear and attack them opposite those balsam trees. 24When you hear the sound of marching coming from the tops of the balsam trees, then be sure to act quickly, since the LORD will have gone out ahead of you to cut down the Philistine army.” 25So David did exactly what the LORD ordered him to do, and he struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.