David Anointed King Over All Israel
All Israel finally comes to Hebron and anoints David, recalling our Father's word that he would shepherd them. He takes the Jebusite stronghold and makes it the City of David, and twice asks our Father before fighting the Philistines — waiting once for marching in the balsam trees.
5 1All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "We are your own flesh and blood. 2Before, when Saul was our king, you led Israel out and brought them home. And our Father told you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel and be ruler over Israel.'" 3All Israel's elders came to the king at Hebron, where King David made a covenant with them before our Father, and they anointed David king over Israel.
4David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
David Conquers Jerusalem
6Then the king and his men marched on Jerusalem against the Jebusites living there. They taunted David, "You'll never get in here; even the blind and lame can turn you back"—thinking, "David can't get in here." 7Nevertheless David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 8That day David said, "Whoever strikes down a Jebusite must reach the water shaft to strike the lame and blind, hated by David's soul." So they say, "The blind and lame won't enter the house." a a v8 The water shaft was a vertical tunnel connecting the city above to its underground water supply — a possible route for infiltrating Jerusalem.
9David settled in the stronghold and named it the City of David. He built up the area all around, from the Millo inward. b b v9 The Millo was a large supporting terrace or earthwork that formed part of Jerusalem's existing defenses. 10And David grew greater and greater, for our Father, the God of heaven's armies, was with him. 11Hiram king of Tyre sent David messengers, cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built David a house.
12David knew our Father had established him as king over Israel and had exalted David's kingdom for the sake of our Father's people Israel.
13After leaving Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
Two Victories Over the Philistines
17When the Philistines heard David had been anointed king over Israel, they all marched up to look for him. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18Now the Philistines had come and spread out across the Valley of Rephaim.
19David asked our Father, "Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" And our Father answered David, "Go ahead—I will surely hand the Philistines over to you."
20So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there. He said, "Our Father has burst through my enemies before me like a bursting flood." So he named that place Baal-perazim. c c v20 Baal-perazim means "master of breakthroughs" — David named the place because our Father burst through his enemies there like a flood breaking loose. 21The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
22Once more the Philistines came up and spread out across the Valley of Rephaim.
23When David asked our Father, he answered, "Don't go straight up. Circle behind them and attack them opposite the balsam trees. 24As soon as you hear marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move fast, for then your Father will have gone out ahead of you to strike down the Philistine camp."
25So David did exactly as our Father had commanded, striking down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.
