A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
2 Samuel 5
2 Samuel 5 is the fifth chapter of the second book of Samuel. The 25-verse chapter records David becoming king over all Israel and his capture of Jerusalem.
The chapter opens with all the tribes of Israel coming to David at Hebron and acknowledging him as their leader. They anoint him king over Israel, and the text notes that David was thirty years old when he began to reign and ruled for forty years, seven and a half in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.
David and his men then march against Jerusalem, held by the Jebusites, who taunt that even the blind and lame could keep him out. David captures the fortress of Zion anyway and makes it his capital, the City of David, building it up all around. The text says David grew greater and greater, because the LORD God of Hosts was with him. Hiram king of Tyre sends cedar and craftsmen to build David a palace, and David recognizes that the LORD has established his kingdom for the sake of Israel.
The chapter closes with two Philistine campaigns. Hearing that David is king, the Philistines come out in force in the Valley of Rephaim. Twice David inquires of the LORD before fighting, and both times he is told to attack; he defeats the Philistines and drives them back from Gibeon to Gezer.
Verse 1. Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.
Verse 2. Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”
Verse 3. So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel.
Verse 4. David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.
Verse 5. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
Verse 6. Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.”
Verse 7. Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David).
Verse 8. On that day he said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must use the water shaft to reach the lame and blind who are despised by David.” That is why it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the palace.”
Verse 9. So David took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built it up all the way around, from the supporting terraces inward.
Verse 10. And David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of Hosts was with him.
Verse 11. Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.
Verse 12. And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
Verse 13. After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.
Verse 14. These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
Verse 15. Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
Verse 16. Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
Verse 17. When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.
Verse 18. Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
Verse 19. So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go up,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
Verse 20. So David went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.” So he called that place Baal-perazim.
Verse 21. There the Philistines abandoned their idols, and David and his men carried them away.
Verse 22. Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
Verse 23. So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.
Verse 24. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
Verse 25. So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
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