| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Here we are, your own flesh and blood. | 1After this, all of the tribes of Israel assembled with David at Hebron and declared, "Look, we're your own flesh and blood! |
| 2Even while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led us out to battle and brought us back. The LORD also said to you, 'You will shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over Israel.'" | 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.'" |
| 3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. King David made a covenant with them at Hebron in the LORD's presence, and they anointed David king 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. |
| 4David was 30 years old when he began his reign; he reigned 40 years. | 4David began to reign when he was 30 years old, and he reigned 40 years. |
| 5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned 33 years over all Israel and Judah. | 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. |
| 6The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites had said to David: "You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you"; thinking, "David can't get in here." | 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." |
| 7Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. | 7Even so, David captured the stronghold of Zion, which is now known as the City of David. |
| 8He said that day, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites must go through the water shaft to reach the lame and the blind who are despised by David." For this reason it is said, "The blind and the lame will never enter the house." | 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." |
| 9David took up residence in the stronghold, which he named the city of David. He built it up all the way around from the supporting terraces inward. | 9David occupied the fortress, naming it the City of David. He built up the surroundings from the terrace ramparts inward. |
| 10David became more and more powerful, and the LORD God of Hosts was with him. | 10David became more and more esteemed because the LORD God of the Heavenly Armies was with him. |
| 11King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David; he also sent cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. | 11Later, King Hiram of Tyre sent a delegation to David, accompanied by cedar logs, carpenters, and stone masons. They built a palace for David. |
| 12Then David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel. | 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. |
| 13After he arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. | 13But after arriving in Jerusalem after leaving Hebron, David took more wives and mistresses, and more sons and daughters were born to David. |
| 14These are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, | 14These are the names of those who were 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 heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of David, but he heard about it and went down to the stronghold. | 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. |
| 18So the Philistines came and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. | 18Meanwhile, the Philistines arrived and encamped in the Rephaim Valley, |
| 19Then David inquired of the LORD: "Should I go to war against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" The LORD replied to David, "Go, for I will certainly hand the Philistines over to you." | 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!" |
| 20So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there and said, "Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me." Therefore, he named that place the Lord Bursts Out. | 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." |
| 21The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off. | 21The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his army carried them off. |
| 22The Philistines came up again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. | 22Later, the Philistines once again marched out and encamped in the Rephaim Valley. |
| 23So David inquired of the LORD, and He answered, "Do not make a frontal assault. Circle around behind them and attack them opposite the balsam trees. | 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 in the tops of the balsam trees, act decisively, for then the LORD will have marched out ahead of you to attack the camp of the Philistines." | 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 as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer. | 25So David did exactly what the LORD ordered him to do, and he struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer. |
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