2 Samuel

Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

1Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. Hebron was a town where David lived. They said, "Look, we are your own family."

2Also 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.

2"Long ago, when Saul was king, you led our army out and brought it home. And the LORD said to you, 'You will care for my people Israel like a shepherd. You will be their leader.'"

3So 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.

3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. Elders were the older men who led the people. There King David made an agreement with them before the LORD. Then they poured oil on David to show he was now king over Israel.

4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

4David was thirty years old when he became king. He ruled for forty years.

5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

5In Hebron he ruled over Judah for seven years and six months. In Jerusalem he ruled over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.

6And 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.

6The king and his men went to Jerusalem to fight the Jebusites. The Jebusites were the people living in that city. They told David, "You will never get in here. Even our blind and lame people could keep you out." They were sure David could not get in.

7Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.

7But David did take the strong fort of Zion. That fort became known as the City of David.

8And 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.

8That day David said, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites must climb up through the water tunnel." He meant to reach the lame and the blind, whom David hated. That is why people say, "The blind and the lame will not come into the house."

NoteThe KJV word "gutter" does not mean a roof gutter. It means the water shaft or tunnel that brought water into the city.

9So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

9So David lived in the fort and called it the City of David. He built the city up all around, from the stone terraces called Millo and inward.

10And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.

10David kept growing stronger and greater. The LORD God, who leads heaven's armies, was with him.

11And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.

11Hiram was the king of Tyre, a city by the sea. He sent men to David with cedar logs, woodworkers, and stone workers. They built a fine house for David.

12And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.

12David understood that the LORD had truly made him king over Israel. He saw that God had made his kingdom great for the good of God's people Israel.

13And 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.

13After David came from Hebron, he took more wives in Jerusalem. Some were concubines, wives who had a lower place in the family. More sons and daughters were born to him.

14And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

14These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammuah, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

15Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

16And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphalet.

17But 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.

17The Philistines heard that David had been made king over Israel. The Philistines were a people who often fought against Israel. So they all came out looking for David. David heard about it and went down to the fort.

18The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

18The Philistines came and spread out across the valley of Rephaim.

19And David enquired 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.

19David asked the LORD, "Should I go up and fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" The LORD said to David, "Go up. I will surely hand the Philistines over to you."

20And David came to Baalperazim, 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 Baalperazim.

20So David went to Baal-perazim and beat the Philistines there. He said, "The LORD has burst through my enemies, like water bursting through a wall." So he named that place Baal-perazim.

NoteThe name Baal-perazim means something like "the place of bursting out." That is why David gave the place that name after the battle.

21And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.

21The Philistines ran off and left their idols behind. Idols were statues that people prayed to. David and his men burned them.

22And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

22The Philistines came up again and spread out across the valley of Rephaim.

23And when David enquired 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.

23David asked the LORD what to do. God said, "Do not go straight up. Circle around behind them. Attack them in front of the balsam trees."

NoteThe KJV says "mulberry trees," but the tree was more likely a balsam tree. "Fetch a compass" is old English for "go around in a circle."

24And 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.

24"Listen for the sound of marching in the treetops. When you hear it, move fast. That sound means the LORD has gone out ahead of you. He will strike the Philistine army."

25And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.

25David did just what the LORD told him. He beat the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gazer.