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2 Samuel 5-6
Easy-to-Read Version

The Israelites Make David King

5 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. They said to David, “Look, we are one family[a]! 2 Even when Saul was our king, you were the one who led us into battle. And you were the one who brought Israel back home from war. The Lord himself said to you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people, the Israelites. You will be the ruler over Israel.’”

3 So all the leaders of Israel came to meet with King David at Hebron. He made an agreement with them in Hebron in front of the Lord, and they anointed David to be the king of Israel.

4 David was 30 years old when he began to rule. He was king for 40 years. 5 In Hebron he ruled over Judah for 7 years and 6 months, and in Jerusalem he ruled over all Israel and Judah for 33 years.

David Captures Jerusalem

6 The king and his men went to fight against the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites said to David, “You cannot come into our city.[b] Even our blind and crippled people can stop you.” (They said this because they thought that David would not be able to enter into their city. 7 But David did take the fort of Zion. This fort became the City of David.)

8 That day David said to his men, “Whenever you strike at the Jebusites, aim for the throat and kill them.”[c] David said this because he hates to have people left who are crippled and blind. That is why people now say, “The lame and blind are not allowed in the temple.[d]”

9 David lived in the fort and called it “The City of David.” David built up the city from the Millo[e] inward.[f] 10 He became stronger and stronger because the Lord All-Powerful was with him.

11 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David. He also sent cedar trees, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a house for David. 12 Then David knew that the Lord had really made him king of Israel and had made him ruler over his kingdom for the good of his people, Israel.

13 David moved from Hebron to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, he got more slave women and wives. So David had more children who were born in Jerusalem. 14 David’s sons who were born in Jerusalem are Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

David Fights Against the Philistines

17 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had anointed David to be the king of Israel, all the Philistines went up to kill him. David heard about this and went down into the fort at Jerusalem. 18 The Philistines came and camped in Rephaim Valley.

19 David asked the Lord, saying, “Should I go up to fight against the Philistines? Will you help me defeat them?”

The Lord answered, “Yes, I certainly will help you defeat the Philistines.”

20 Then David went to Baal Perazim and defeated the Philistines in that place. He said, “The Lord broke through my enemies like water breaking through a dam.” That is why David named that place “Baal Perazim.”[g] 21 The Philistines left the statues of their gods behind at Baal Perazim. David and his men took them away.

22 Again the Philistines came up and camped in Rephaim Valley.

23 David prayed to the Lord again and got this answer: “Don’t go up the valley. Go around them to the other side of their army. Attack them from the other side of the balsam trees. 24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, you must act quickly because that is the sign that the Lord has gone out in front of you to defeat the Philistines.[h]”

25 David did what the Lord commanded him to do, and he defeated the Philistines. He chased them from Geba to Gezer, killing them all along the way.

God’s Holy Box Is Moved to Jerusalem

6 David again gathered all the best soldiers in Israel. There were 30,000 men. 2 Then David and all his men went to Baalah in Judah[i] to take God’s Holy Box there. The Holy Box is like God’s throne—people go there to call on the name of the Lord All-Powerful who sits as king above the Cherub angels that are on that Box. 3 David’s men brought the Holy Box out of Abinadab’s house on the hill. Then they put God’s Holy Box on a new wagon. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were driving the new wagon.

4 So they carried the Holy Box out of Abinadab’s house on the hill. The sons of Abinadab, Uzzah and Ahio, drove the new wagon. Ahio was walking in front of the Holy Box. 5 David and all the Israelites were dancing in front of the Lord and playing all kinds of musical instruments. There were lyres, harps, drums, rattles, instruments made from cypress wood, and cymbals. 6 When David’s men came to the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and God’s Holy Box began to fall off the wagon. Uzzah caught the Holy Box. 7 But the Lord was angry with Uzzah and killed him for that mistake. Uzzah showed he did not honor God when he touched the Holy Box, so he died there by God’s Holy Box. 8 David was upset because the Lord had killed Uzzah. David called that place “Perez Uzzah.”[j] It is still called Perez Uzzah today.

9 David became afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, “How can I bring God’s Holy Box here now?” 10 So David would not move the Lord’s Holy Box into the City of David. He put the Holy Box at the house of Obed Edom from Gath.[k] 11 The Lord’s Holy Box stayed in Obed Edom’s house for three months. The Lord blessed Obed Edom and all his family.

12 Later people told David, “The Lord has blessed the family of Obed Edom and everything he owns, because God’s Holy Box is there.” So David went and brought God’s Holy Box from Obed Edom’s house. David was very happy and excited. 13 When the men who carried the Lord’s Holy Box had walked six steps, they stopped and David sacrificed a bull and a fat calf. 14 David was dancing in front of the Lord. He was wearing a linen ephod.

15 David and all the Israelites were excited—they shouted and blew the trumpet as they brought the Lord’s Holy Box into the city. 16 Saul’s daughter Michal was looking out the window. While the Lord’s Holy Box was being carried into the city, David was jumping and dancing before the Lord. Michal saw this, and she was upset at David.

17 David put up a tent for the Holy Box. The Israelites put the Lord’s Holy Box in its place under the tent. Then David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord.

18 After David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord All-Powerful. 19 He also gave a share of bread, a raisin cake, and some date bread to every man and woman of Israel. Then all the people went home.

Michal Scolds David

20 David went back to bless his house, but Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. She said, “The king of Israel did not honor himself today! You took off your clothes in front of your servants’ girls. You were like a fool who takes off his clothes without shame!”

21 Then David said to Michal, “The Lord chose me, not your father or anyone from his family. The Lord chose me to be leader of his people, the Israelites. So I will continue dancing and celebrating in front of the Lord. 22 I might do things that are even more embarrassing! Maybe you will not respect me, but the girls you are talking about are proud of me!”

23 Saul’s daughter Michal never had a child. She died without having any children.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 5:1 one family Literally, “your flesh and blood.”
  2. 2 Samuel 5:6 You cannot come … city The city of Jerusalem was built on a hill. It had high walls around it, making it hard to capture.
  3. 2 Samuel 5:8 Whenever … kill them Or “Whoever wants to attack the Jebusites must go through the shaft.” This might refer to a tunnel or shaft leading up into the city through Gihon Spring, which was outside the city walls.
  4. 2 Samuel 5:8 temple Or “the king’s palace.”
  5. 2 Samuel 5:9 Millo This is probably the stone foundation walls that were built on the steep slopes on the east side of the City of David.
  6. 2 Samuel 5:9 inward Or “toward the Temple.”
  7. 2 Samuel 5:20 Baal Perazim This name means “the Lord breaks through.”
  8. 2 Samuel 5:24 Or “From the top of the balsam trees you will be able to hear them marching into battle. Then you must act quickly, because at that time the Lord will go ahead of you and defeat the Philistines for you.”
  9. 2 Samuel 6:2 Baalah in Judah Another name for Kiriath Jearim. See 1 Chron. 13:6.
  10. 2 Samuel 6:8 Perez Uzzah This name means “The Punishment of Uzzah.”
  11. 2 Samuel 6:10 Obed Edom from Gath A person from the tribe of Levi who lived near Jerusalem.
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2 Samuel 5-6
New International Version

David Becomes King Over Israel(A)

5 All the tribes of Israel(B) came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood.(C) 2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns.(D) And the Lord said(E) to you, ‘You will shepherd(F) my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.(G)’”

3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant(H) with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed(I) David king over Israel.

4 David was thirty years old(J) when he became king, and he reigned(K) forty(L) years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months,(M) and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

David Conquers Jerusalem(N)(O)

6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem(P) to attack the Jebusites,(Q) who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” 7 Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion(R)—which is the City of David.(S)

8 On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft(T) to reach those ‘lame and blind’(U) who are David’s enemies.[a]” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”

9 David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces[b](V) inward. 10 And he became more and more powerful,(W) because the Lord God Almighty(X) was with him.(Y)

11 Now Hiram(Z) king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. 12 Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom(AA) for the sake of his people Israel.

13 After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives(AB) in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 These are the names of the children born to him there:(AC) Shammua, Shobab, Nathan,(AD) Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

David Defeats the Philistines(AE)

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.(AF) 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;(AG) 19 so David inquired(AH) of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”

20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.[c](AI) 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.(AJ)

22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 23 so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound(AK) of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front(AL) of you to strike the Philistine army.” 25 So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines(AM) all the way from Gibeon[d](AN) to Gezer.(AO)

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem(AP)(AQ)

6 David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand. 2 He and all his men went to Baalah[e](AR) in Judah to bring up from there the ark(AS) of God, which is called by the Name,[f](AT) the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned(AU) between the cherubim(AV) on the ark. 3 They set the ark of God on a new cart(AW) and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill.(AX) Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart 4 with the ark of God on it,[g] and Ahio was walking in front of it. 5 David and all Israel were celebrating(AY) with all their might before the Lord, with castanets,[h] harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.(AZ)

6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of(BA) the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act;(BB) therefore God struck him down,(BC) and he died there beside the ark of God.

8 Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath(BD) had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.[i](BE)

9 David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How(BF) can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” 10 He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom(BG) the Gittite. 11 The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.(BH)

12 Now King David(BI) was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed(BJ) a bull and a fattened calf. 14 Wearing a linen ephod,(BK) David was dancing(BL) before the Lord with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts(BM) and the sound of trumpets.(BN)

16 As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David,(BO) Michal(BP) daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

17 They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it,(BQ) and David sacrificed burnt offerings(BR) and fellowship offerings before the Lord. 18 After he had finished sacrificing(BS) the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed(BT) the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. 19 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins(BU) to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women.(BV) And all the people went to their homes.

20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked(BW) in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

21 David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed(BX) me ruler(BY) over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”

23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 5:8 Or are hated by David
  2. 2 Samuel 5:9 Or the Millo
  3. 2 Samuel 5:20 Baal Perazim means the lord who breaks out.
  4. 2 Samuel 5:25 Septuagint (see also 1 Chron. 14:16); Hebrew Geba
  5. 2 Samuel 6:2 That is, Kiriath Jearim (see 1 Chron. 13:6)
  6. 2 Samuel 6:2 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate do not have the Name.
  7. 2 Samuel 6:4 Dead Sea Scrolls and some Septuagint manuscripts; Masoretic Text cart 4 and they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill
  8. 2 Samuel 6:5 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint (see also 1 Chron. 13:8) songs
  9. 2 Samuel 6:8 Perez Uzzah means outbreak against Uzzah.
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