David Becomes King Over All Israel
Study note
With Ish-bosheth dead, the remaining tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. They acknowledged that David was their relative, that he had been their real leader even under Saul, and that God had chosen him to be king. The elders made a formal agreement with David, and he was anointed king over all twelve tribes. David was thirty years old when he became king and ruled for a total of forty years: seven and a half years in Hebron over Judah, then thirty-three years in Jerusalem over all Israel.
1 People from every tribe of Israel came to David at Hebron. They said, "We are part of your family — your own relatives." Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
2 "Even back when Saul was king, you were the real leader who took Israel's army out to fight and brought them safely home. The Lord told you, 'You will be the shepherd who guides my people Israel. You will be their ruler.'" Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.
3 All the leaders of Israel gathered before David at Hebron. There, in the Lord's presence, David entered into a solemn agreement with them. Then they anointed him king over all of Israel. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.
4 David was thirty when he became king, and he ruled for a total of forty years. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5 He was king over Judah in Hebron for seven and a half years. Then he was king over all Israel and Judah in Jerusalem for thirty-three years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.
David Captures Jerusalem
Study note
Jerusalem was held by the Jebusites, who were so confident in their fortress that they mocked David, saying even the blind and lame could defend it. But David captured the stronghold of Zion through the water shaft. This was a brilliant military and political move, because Jerusalem sat on the border between the northern and southern tribes, making it a neutral capital. David renamed it the City of David and continued to build it up. King Hiram of Tyre, a powerful trading city on the coast, sent workers and materials to build David a palace, confirming David's importance to the surrounding nations.
6 David and his army marched to Jerusalem to fight the Jebusites who controlled the area. The Jebusites taunted David, "You will never break through our walls. Even blind and crippled people could hold you off." They were confident their city was impossible to capture. And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.
7 David captured the fortress of Zion anyway. It became known as the City of David. Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
8 That day David said, "Anyone who wants to beat the Jebusites needs to go up through the water tunnel to reach those so-called blind and lame defenders who hate David." That is where the saying came from: "The blind and the lame will not enter the palace." And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.
9 David settled into the fortress and renamed it the City of David. He then expanded the city, building outward from the Millo terrace. So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
10 David kept growing in power because the Lord God of Heaven's Armies was on his side. And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.
11 King Hiram of Tyre reached out to David by sending messengers along with cedar logs, woodworkers, and masons. They constructed a palace for David. And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
12 David knew that the Lord had truly made him king over Israel. He knew God had blessed his kingdom for the good of his people. And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.
David's Family Grows in Jerusalem
Study note
After moving to Jerusalem, David took more wives and concubines, and more children were born to him. Among those born in Jerusalem was Solomon, who would eventually succeed David as king. The practice of kings having many wives was common in the ancient world and was seen as a sign of wealth and political alliances, though it often led to family problems.
13 David moved from Hebron to Jerusalem. He married more wives there. More children were born to him. And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
14 Here are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, and Japhia were also born to him. Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
16 His other sons included Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
David Defeats the Philistines
Study note
When the Philistines heard that David was now king over all Israel, they gathered their forces and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim near Jerusalem. David asked God for guidance, and the Lord told him to attack directly. David won a great victory and named the place Baal-perazim, meaning 'the Lord who breaks through.' When the Philistines returned a second time, God gave different instructions: circle around behind them and wait for the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees as a signal that God was going before them. David obeyed and drove the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.
17 The Philistines heard that David was now king over all Israel. They gathered their whole army to come after him. David found out and pulled back to a safe position. But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.
18 The Philistines arrived and spread their troops across the Valley of Rephaim. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
19 David asked the Lord, "Should I attack the Philistines? Will you give me the victory?" The Lord replied, "Go ahead! I will hand the Philistines over to you." And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
20 David went to Baal-perazim and won a great victory there. He exclaimed, "The Lord has broken through my enemies like a flood of water crashing through a dam!" That is how the place got its name, Baal-perazim, meaning "The Lord Who Breaks Through." And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.
21 The Philistines left their idols behind on the battlefield. David's men took them and destroyed them. And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.
22 Before long, the Philistines returned and once again spread their forces across the Valley of Rephaim. And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
23 David consulted the Lord again. This time the Lord gave different instructions: "Do not charge straight at them. Loop around to their rear and come at them from near the balsam trees." And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
24 "Listen for the sound of footsteps in the treetops. When you hear it, move fast! That will mean the Lord is going out ahead of you to crush the Philistine army." And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.
25 David did just what the Lord told him and pushed the Philistines back all the way from Geba to Gezer. And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.