David Anointed King of All Israel
And all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and they said: “Look — we are your bone and your flesh.
Both yesterday and the day before, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and brought them in. And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall shepherd my people Israel, and you shall be leader over Israel.’”
And all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David cut a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David as king over Israel.
David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.
In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
David Conquers Jerusalem
And the king and his men went to Jerusalem, against the Jebusite, the inhabitant of the land. And he said to David, “You shall not come in here — even the blind and the lame will turn you away,” saying, “David shall not come in here.”
But David captured the stronghold of Zion — that is, the city of David.
And David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusite, let him reach the lame and the blind, hated by David’s soul, through the water shaft.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”
And David lived in the stronghold, and called it the city of David; and David built all around, from the Millo and inward.
And David went on and grew great, and the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him.
And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons for walls of stone; and they built a house for David.
David’s Family Grows
And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that he had lifted up his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David.
And these are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon;
and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia;
and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.
Two Victories over the Philistines
And the Philistines heard that they had anointed David as king over Israel, and all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard, and went down to the stronghold.
And the Philistines came and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
And David asked of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up — for I will surely give the Philistines into your hand.”
And David came to Baal-perazim, and David struck them there; and he said, “The LORD has burst through my enemies before me, like a bursting of waters.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.
And they abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.
And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
And David asked of the LORD, and he said: “You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and come at them opposite the balsam trees.
And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then act decisively — for then the LORD has gone out before you, to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he struck the Philistines from Geba until you come to Gezer.