David Becomes King of Israel

(1 Chronicles 11.1-3)

1Israel's leaders met with David at Hebron and said, “We are your relatives. 2Even when Saul was king, you led our nation in battle. And the Lord promised that someday you would rule Israel and take care of us like a shepherd.”

3During the meeting, David made an agreement with the leaders and asked the Lord to be their witness. Then the leaders poured olive oil on David's head to show that he was now the king of Israel.

4 David was 30 years old when he became king, and he ruled for 40 years. 5He lived in Hebron for the first seven and a half years and ruled only Judah. Then he moved to Jerusalem, where he ruled both Israel and Judah for 33 years.

How David Captured Jerusalem

(1 Chronicles 11.4-9; 14.1,2)

6 The Jebusites lived in Jerusalem, and David led his army there to attack them. The Jebusites did not think he could get in, so they told him, “You can't get in here! We could keep you out, even if we couldn't see or walk!”

7-9David told his troops, “You will have to go up through the water tunnel to get those Jebusites. I hate people like them+ who can't walk or see.”

That's why there is still a rule that says, “Only people who can walk and see are allowed in the temple.”+

David captured the fortress on Mount Zion, then he moved there and named it David's City. He had the city rebuilt, starting with the landfill to the east. 10David became a great and strong ruler, because the Lord All-Powerful was on his side.

11King Hiram of Tyre sent some officials to David. Carpenters and stone workers came with them, and they brought cedar logs so they could build David a palace.

12David knew that the Lord had made him king of Israel and that he had made him a powerful ruler for the good of his people.

David's Sons Born in Jerusalem

(1 Chronicles 14.3-7)

13After David left Hebron and moved to Jerusalem, he married many women+ from Jerusalem,+ and he had a lot of children. 14His sons who were born there were Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16Elishama, Eliada,+ and Eliphelet.

David Fights the Philistines

(1 Chronicles 14.8-17)

17The Philistines heard that David was now king of Israel, and they came into the hill country to try and capture him. But David found out and went into his fortress.+ 18So the Philistines camped in Rephaim Valley.+

19David asked the Lord, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you let me win?”

The Lord told David, “Attack! I will let you win.”

20David attacked the Philistines and defeated them. Then he said, “I watched the Lord break through my enemies like a mighty flood.” So he named the place “The Lord Broke Through.”+ 21David and his troops also carried away the idols that the Philistines had left behind.

22Some time later, the Philistines came back into the hill country and camped in Rephaim Valley. 23David asked the Lord what he should do, and the Lord answered:

Don't attack them from the front. Circle around behind and attack from among the balsam+ trees. 24Wait until you hear a sound in the treetops like marching troops. Then attack quickly! That sound will mean I have marched out ahead of you to fight the Philistine army.

25David obeyed the Lord and defeated the Philistines. He even chased them all the way from Geba to the entrance to Gezer.