1 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said to him: »We are your own flesh and blood.

2 »For a long time when Saul was still our king, you led the people of Israel in battle. Jehovah promised you that you would lead his people and be their ruler.«

3 All the elders of Israel came to King David at Hebron. He made a sacred alliance with them. They anointed him, and he became king of Israel.

4 David was thirty years old when he became king. He ruled for forty years.

5 In Hebron he ruled Judah for seven years and six months. In Jerusalem he ruled for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

6 The king and his men went to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived in that region. The Jebusites told David: »You will never get in here. Even the blind and the lame could turn you away. In other words he could not enter there.«

7 However, David captured the fortress Zion, that is, the City of David.

8 That day David said: »Whoever wants to defeat the Jebusites must reach the lame and the blind that hate me by using the water tunnel.« So there is a saying: »The blind and the lame will not get into the palace.«

9 David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built the city of Jerusalem around it from the stronghold citadel to the palace.

10 David continued to grow more powerful because Jehovah God of Hosts was with him.

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

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

13 David left Hebron and moved to Jerusalem. He married many women from Jerusalem, and he had a lot of children.

14 The following are the names of his sons born in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

17 The Philistines heard that David was now king of Israel. They mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David found out and went into his fortress.

18 So the Philistines camped in Rephaim Valley.

19 David asked Jehovah: »Shall I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?« Jehovah answered David: »Attack! I will certainly deliver the Philistines to you.«

20 David went to Baal Perazim and defeated the Philistines. He said: »Jehovah has overwhelmed my enemies in front of me like an overwhelming flood.« That is why that place is called Baal Perazim Master of Breaking Through

21 The Philistines left their idols there. David and his men carried them all away.

22 The Philistines again attacked and overran the valley of Rephaim.

23 Once again David consulted Jehovah. Jehovah answered David: »Do not attack them from here. Go around and get ready to attack them from the other side, near the balsam trees.

24 »Attack when you hear the sound of marching in the treetops. I will be marching ahead of you to defeat the Philistine army.«

25 David did what Jehovah commanded. He drove the Philistines back from Geba all the way to Gezer.