2 Samuel 5

Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Ref Then all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said, Truly, we are your bone and your flesh.

2 Ref In the past when Saul was king over us, it was you who went at the head of Israel when they went out or came in: and the Lord said to you, You are to be the keeper of my people Israel and their ruler.

3 Ref So all the responsible men of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they put the holy oil on David and made him king over Israel.

4 Ref David was thirty years old when he became king, and he was king for forty years,

5 Ref Ruling over Judah in Hebron for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem, over all Israel and Judah, for thirty-three years.

6 Ref And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the people of the land: and they said to David, You will not come in here, but the blind and the feeble-footed will keep you out; for they said, David will not be able to come in here.

7 Ref But David took the strong place of Zion, which is the town of David.

8 Ref And that day David said, Whoever makes an attack on the Jebusites, let him go up by the water-pipe, and put to death all the blind and feeble-footed who are hated by David. And this is why they say, The blind and feeble-footed may not come into the house.

9 Ref So David took the strong tower for his living-place, naming it the town of David. And David took in hand the building of the town all round, starting from the Millo.

10 Ref And David became greater and greater; for the Lord, the God of armies, was with him.

11 Ref And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent men to David, with cedar-trees and woodworkers and stoneworkers: and they made David a house.

12 Ref And David saw that the Lord had made his position safe as king over Israel, and that he had made his kingdom great because of his people Israel.

13 Ref And David took more women and wives in Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron: and he had more sons and daughters.

14 Ref These are the names of those whose birth took place in Jerusalem: Shammua and Shobab and Nathan and Solomon

15 Ref And Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia

16 Ref And Elishama and Eliada and Eliphelet.

17 Ref And when the Philistines had news that David had been made king over Israel, they all went up in search of David; and David, hearing of it, went down to the strong place.

18 Ref And when the Philistines came, they went in every direction in the valley of Rephaim.

19 Ref And David, desiring directions from the Lord, said, Am I to go up against the Philistines? will you give them up into my hands? And the Lord said, Go up, for I will certainly give up the Philistines into your hands.

20 Ref And David went to Baal-perazim, and overcame them there; and he said, The Lord has let the forces fighting against me be broken before me as a wall is broken by rushing waters. So that place was named Baal-perazim.

21 Ref And the Philistines, when they went in flight, did not take their images with them, and David and his men took them away.

22 Ref And the Philistines came up again, and went in every direction in the valley of Rephaim.

23 Ref And when David went for directions to the Lord, he said, You are not to go up against them in front; but make a circle round them from the back and come on them opposite the spice-trees.

24 Ref Then at the sound of footsteps in the tops of the trees, go forward quickly, for the Lord has gone out before you to overcome the army of the Philistines.

25 Ref And David did as the Lord had said; and he overcame the Philistines, attacking them from Gibeon to near Gezer.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Ref And all the tribes of Israel come unto David, to Hebron, and speak, saying, `Lo, we `are' thy bone and thy flesh;

2 Ref also heretofore, in Saul's being king over us, thou hast been he who is bringing out and bringing in Israel, and Jehovah saith to thee, Thou dost feed My people Israel, and thou art for leader over Israel.'

3 Ref And all the elders of Israel come unto the king, to Hebron, and king David maketh with them a covenant in Hebron before Jehovah, and they anoint David for king over Israel.

4 Ref A son of thirty years `is' David in his being king; forty years he hath reigned;

5 Ref 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.

6 Ref And the king goeth, and his men, to Jerusalem, unto the Jebusite, the inhabitant of the land, and they speak to David, saying, `Thou dost not come in hither, except thou turn aside the blind and the lame;' saying, `David doth not come in hither.'

7 Ref And David captureth the fortress of Zion, it `is' the city of David.

8 Ref And David saith on that day, `Any one smiting the Jebusite, (let him go up by the watercourse), and the lame and the blind -- the hated of David's soul,' -- because the blind and lame say, `He doth not come into the house.'

9 Ref And David dwelleth in the fortress, and calleth it -- City of David, and David buildeth round about, from Millo and inward,

10 Ref and David goeth, going on and becoming great, and Jehovah, God of Hosts, `is' with him.

11 Ref And Hiram king of Tyre sendeth messengers unto David, and cedar-trees, and artificers of wood, and artificers of stone, for walls, and they build a house for David,

12 Ref and David knoweth that Jehovah hath established him for king over Israel, and that He hath lifted up his kingdom, because of His people Israel.

13 Ref And David taketh again concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after his coming from Hebron, and there are born again to David sons and daughters.

14 Ref And these `are' the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

15 Ref and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

16 Ref and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

17 Ref And the Philistines hear that they have anointed David for king over Israel, and all the Philistines come up to seek David, and David heareth, and goeth down unto the fortress,

18 Ref and the Philistines have come, and are spread out in the valley of Rephaim.

19 Ref And David asketh of Jehovah, saying, `Do I go up unto the Philistines? dost Thou give them into my hand?' And Jehovah saith unto David, `Go up, for I certainly give the Philistines into thy hand.'

20 Ref And David cometh in to Baal-Perazim, and David smiteth them there, and saith, `Jehovah hath broken forth `on' mine enemies before me, as the breaking forth of waters;' therefore he hath called the name of that place Baal-Perazim.

21 Ref And they forsake there their idols, and David and his men lift them up.

22 Ref And the Philistines add again to come up, and are spread out in the valley of Rephaim,

23 Ref and David asketh of Jehovah, and He saith, `Thou dost not go up, turn round unto their rear, and thou hast come to them over-against the mulberries,

24 Ref and it cometh to pass, in thy hearing the sound of a stepping in the tops of the mulberries, then thou dost move sharply, for then hath Jehovah gone out before thee to smite in the camp of the Philistines.'

25 Ref And David doth so, as Jehovah commanded him, and smiteth the Philistines from Geba unto thy coming to Gazer.

King James Version (KJV)

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

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

5 Ref 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.

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

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

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

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

12 Ref 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.

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

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

16 Ref And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

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

19 Ref 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 Ref And 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.

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

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

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

Chapter 5 of 24

Begin Your Journey of Faith

We all start at different points in our walk with Christ. No matter where you are, we're here to support you as you grow in faith.

Accept Jesus Christ as Your Savior

If you haven’t made the decision to follow Jesus yet, we want to walk with you as you discover the new life He offers.

Read "A Truly Free Gift"

What Guides Our Walk With Christ

Discover the biblical truths and core beliefs that shape how we live, serve, and walk faithfully with Christ each day.

Explore Our Beliefs

Join a Community of Believers

Don’t walk through life alone. Find others to connect with, whether in person or online, and grow together in Christ.

Discover Where We Meet