(A)Now the king and his men went to (B)Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land; and they said to [a]David, “You shall not come in here, but even those who are blind and those who limp will turn you away,” [b]thinking, “David cannot enter here.” Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is, (C)the city of David. And David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites is to reach those who limp and those who are blind, who are hated by David’s soul, through the water tunnel.” For that reason they say, “People who are blind and people who limp shall not come into the house.” So David lived in the stronghold, and called it (D)the city of David. And David built all around from the [c](E)Millo and inward. 10 (F)David became greater and greater, for the Lord God of armies was with him.

11 (G)Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, carpenters, and [d]stonemasons; and (H)they built a house for David. 12 And David realized that the Lord had appointed him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

13 Meanwhile (I)David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 Now (J)these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 5:6 Lit David, saying
  2. 2 Samuel 5:6 Lit saying
  3. 2 Samuel 5:9 I.e., terraced structure
  4. 2 Samuel 5:11 Lit stone wall craftsmen

David now led his troops to Jerusalem to fight against the Jebusites who lived there.

“You’ll never come in here,” they told him. “Even the blind and lame could keep you out!” For they thought they were safe. But David and his troops defeated them and captured the stronghold of Zion, now called the City of David.

When the insulting message from the defenders of the city reached David, he told his troops, “Go up through the water tunnel into the city and destroy those ‘lame’ and ‘blind’ Jebusites. How I hate them.” (That is the origin of the saying, “Even the blind and the lame could conquer you!”)

So David made the stronghold of Zion (also called the City of David) his headquarters. Then, beginning at the old Millo section of the city, he built northward toward the present city center. 10 So David became greater and greater, for the Lord God of heaven was with him.

11 Then King Hiram of Tyre sent cedar lumber, carpenters, and masons to build a palace for David. 12 David now realized why the Lord had made him the king and blessed his kingdom so greatly—it was because God wanted to pour out his kindness on Israel, his chosen people.

13 After moving from Hebron to Jerusalem, David married additional wives and concubines, and had many sons and daughters. 14-16 These are his children who were born at Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, Eliphelet.

Read full chapter