| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1After this, all of the tribes of Israel assembled with David at Hebron and declared, "Look, we're your own flesh and blood! | 1All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron saying, "Look, we are your very flesh and blood! |
| 2Even back when Saul was our king, it was you who kept on leading Israel out to battle and bringing them back again. The LORD told you, 'You yourself will shepherd my people Israel and serve as Commander-in-Chief over Israel.'" | 2In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the real leader in Israel. The LORD said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule 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. | 3When all the leaders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, King David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the LORD. They designated David as king over Israel. |
| 4David began to reign when he was 30 years old, and he reigned 40 years. | 4David was thirty years old when he began to reign and he reigned for forty 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. | 5In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. |
| 6Later, the king and his army marched on Jerusalem against the Jebusites, who were inhabiting the territory at that time and who had told David, "You're not coming in here! Even the blind and the lame could turn you away!" because they were thinking "David can't come here." | 6Then the king and his men advanced to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who lived in the land. The Jebusites said to David, "You cannot invade this place! Even the blind and the lame will turn you back, saying, 'David cannot invade this place!'" |
| 7Even so, David captured the stronghold of Zion, which is now known as the City of David. | 7But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the city of David). |
| 8At that time, 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." Therefore they say, "The blind and lame are never to come into the house." | 8David said on that day, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites must approach the 'lame' and the 'blind' who are David's enemies by going through the water tunnel." For this reason it is said, "The blind and the lame cannot enter the palace." |
| 9David occupied the fortress, naming it the City of David. He built up the surroundings from the terrace ramparts inward. | 9So David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. David built all around it, from the terrace inwards. |
| 10David became more and more esteemed because the LORD God of the Heavenly Armies was with him. | 10David's power grew steadily, for the LORD God who commands armies was with him. |
| 11Later, King Hiram of Tyre sent a delegation to David, accompanied by cedar logs, carpenters, and stone masons. They built a palace for David. | 11King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a palace for David. |
| 12So David concluded that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom in order to benefit his people Israel. | 12David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. |
| 13But after arriving in Jerusalem after leaving Hebron, David took more wives and mistresses, and more sons and daughters were born to David. | 13David married more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he arrived from Hebron. Even 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, | 14These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, |
| 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, | 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, |
| 16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. | 16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. |
| 17When the Philistines eventually learned that Israel had anointed David to be king over Israel, they marched out in search of him. But David heard about it and retreated to his stronghold. | 17When the Philistines heard that David had been designated king over Israel, they all went up to search for David. When David heard about it, he went down to the fortress. |
| 18Meanwhile, the Philistines arrived and encamped in the Rephaim Valley, | 18Now the Philistines had arrived and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. |
| 19so David asked the LORD, "Am I to go attack the Philistines? Will you give me victory over them?" "Go get them," the LORD replied to David, "because I'm going to put the Philistines right into your hand!" | 19So David asked the LORD, "Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" The LORD said to David, "March up, for I will indeed hand the Philistines over to you." |
| 20So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there. He called the place Baal-perazim, because he said, "Like a bursting flood, the LORD has jumped out in front of me to fight my enemies." | 20So David marched against Baal Perazim and defeated them there. Then he said, "The LORD has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out." So he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. |
| 21The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his army carried them off. | 21The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men picked them up. |
| 22Later, the Philistines once again marched out and encamped in the Rephaim Valley. | 22The Philistines again came up and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. |
| 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. | 23So David asked the LORD what he should do. This time the LORD said to him, "Don't march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the 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." | 24When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at that moment the LORD is going before you to strike down the army of the Philistines." |
| 25So David did exactly what the LORD ordered him to do, and he struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer. | 25David did just as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Gibeon all the way to Gezer. |
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