| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron saying, "Look, we are your very flesh and blood! | 1Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood. |
| 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.'" | 2In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the LORD told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be Israel’s leader.’” |
| 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. | 3So there at Hebron, King David made a covenant before the LORD with all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel. |
| 4David was thirty years old when he began to reign and he reigned for forty years. | 4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in all. |
| 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. | 5He had reigned over Judah from Hebron for seven years and six months, and from Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years. David Captures Jerusalem |
| 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!'" | 6David then led his men to Jerusalem to fight against the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of the land who were living there. The Jebusites taunted David, saying, “You’ll never get in here! Even the blind and lame could keep you out!” For the Jebusites thought they were safe. |
| 7But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the city of David). | 7But David captured the fortress of Zion, which is now called the City of David. |
| 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." | 8On the day of the attack, David said to his troops, “I hate those ‘lame’ and ‘blind’ Jebusites. Whoever attacks them should strike by going into the city through the water tunnel. ” That is the origin of the saying, “The blind and the lame may not enter the house.” |
| 9So David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. David built all around it, from the terrace inwards. | 9So David made the fortress his home, and he called it the City of David. He extended the city, starting at the supporting terraces and working inward. |
| 10David's power grew steadily, for the LORD God who commands armies was with him. | 10And David became more and more powerful, because the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies was with him. |
| 11King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a palace for David. | 11Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar timber and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built David a palace. |
| 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. | 12And David realized that the LORD had confirmed him as king over Israel and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. |
| 13David married more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he arrived from Hebron. Even more sons and daughters were born to David. | 13After moving from Hebron to Jerusalem, David married more concubines and wives, and they had more sons and daughters. |
| 14These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, | 14These are the names of David’s sons who were born in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, |
| 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, | 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, |
| 16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. | 16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. David Conquers the Philistines |
| 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. | 17When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he went into the stronghold. |
| 18Now the Philistines had arrived and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. | 18The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. |
| 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." | 19So David asked the LORD, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The LORD replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.” |
| 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. | 20So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “The LORD did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”). |
| 21The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men picked them up. | 21The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so David and his men confiscated them. |
| 22The Philistines again came up and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. | 22But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. |
| 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. | 23And again David asked the LORD what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the LORD replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. |
| 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." | 24When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the LORD is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” |
| 25David did just as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Gibeon all the way to Gezer. | 25So David did what the LORD commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. |
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