¶ Then came¹ all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we² are thy bone and thy flesh.

Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out³ and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed⁴ my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain⁵ over Israel.

So all⁶ the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made⁷ a league with them in Hebron before⁸ the LORD: and they anointed⁹ David king over Israel.

David was thirty¹⁰ years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty¹¹ years.

In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years¹² and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

¶ And the king and his men went to Jerusalem¹³ unto the Jebusites¹⁴, the inhabitants of the land: which spake¹⁵ unto David, saying, Except¹⁶ thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot¹⁷ come in hither.

Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion¹⁸: the same¹⁹ is the city of David.

And David said on that day, Whosoever²⁰ getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be²¹ chief and captain. Wherefore²² they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.

So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city²³ of David. And David built round about from Millo²⁴ and inward.

¶ And David went on, and grew great²⁵, and the LORD²⁶ God of hosts was with him.

¶ And Hiram²⁷ king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons²⁸: and they built David an house.

And David²⁹ perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people³⁰ Israel's sake.

³¹And 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.

And these be the names³² of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan³⁴, and Solomon³⁵,

Ibhar also, and Elishua³⁶, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

And Elishama, and Eliada³⁷, and Eliphalet³⁸.

¶ But when³⁹ 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 hold⁴⁰.

The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley⁴¹ of Rephaim.

And David enquired⁴² of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD⁴³ said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

¶ And David came to Baalperazim⁴⁴, 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.

And there they left their images, and David⁴⁵ and his men burned them⁴⁶.

And the Philistines came up⁴⁷ yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

And when David enquired⁴⁸ of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch⁴⁹ a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees⁵⁰.

And let it be, when thou hearest the sound⁵¹ of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir⁵² thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba⁵³ until thou come to Gazer.