 1 All the tribes of Israel came to David, to Hebron, and spoke saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in. The Lord said to you, you shall feed my people Israel and you shall be a leader over Israel. 3 All the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. King David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was 30 years old when he began to reign and he reigned 40 years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months. In Jerusalem he reigned 33 years over all Israel and Judah. 6 The king and his men went to Jerusalem to the Jebusites, the people of the land. And one spoke to David saying, you shall not come in here, except the blind and the lame will turn you away. Also saying, David cannot come in here. 7 David took the stronghold of Zion. It is the city of David. 8 David said on that day, Anyone who strikes the Jebusite, let him go by the water shaft and take the lame and the blind, the hated of David's soul. On account of this they say, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. 9 David lived in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built all around, from Millo and inward. 10 David became great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him. 11 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers, cedar trees, carpenters, and masons to David and they built a house for David. 12 David saw that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that He had made his kingdom sure for His people Israel's sake. 13 David took more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem after he had come from Hebron and even more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 These are the names of those to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, 15 and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 16 and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet. 17 The Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel. So all the Philistines came up to seek David. David heard and went down to the stronghold. 18 The Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of the giants. 19 David inquired of the Lord saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? Will you deliver them to me? The Lord said to David, Go. For I will surely deliver the Philistines to you. 20 David came to Baalperazim and struck them there and said, The Lord has broken forth on my enemies before me like the breaking forth of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place The Breaking of Baal. 21 They left their images there, and David and his men took them away. 22 The Philistines came up again and spread themselves in the valley of the giants. 23 David inquired of the Lord, and He said, You shall not go up, but go around behind them and come upon them over across from the weeping trees. 24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the weeping trees, then you shall strike. For then the Lord will go out before you to strike the army of the Philistines. 25 David did so, as the Lord had commanded him, and he struck the Philistines from Geba until Gezer.
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