5All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2Long before now, when Saul was king over us, it was you who b-led Israel in war;-b and the LORD said to you: You shall shepherd My people Israel; you shall be ruler of Israel.” 3All the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a pact with them in Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel.
4David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
6The king and his men set out for Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the region. David was told, “You will never get in here! c-Even the blind and the lame will turn you back.” (They meant: David will never enter here.)-c 7But David captured the stronghold of Zion; it is now the City of David. 8On that occasion David said, “Those who attack the Jebusites c-shall reach the water channel and [strike down] the lame and the blind, who are hateful to David.” That is why they say: “No one who is blind or lame may enter the House.”-c
9David occupied the stronghold and renamed it the City of David; David also fortified the surrounding area, from the Millod inward. 10David kept growing stronger, for the LORD, the God of Hosts, was with him.
11eKing Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons; and they built a palace for David. 12Thus David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingship for the sake of His people Israel.
13After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: fShammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon; 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, and Japhia; 16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17gWhen the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, the Philistines marched up in search of David; but David heard of it, and he went down to the fastness.h 18The Philistines came and spread out over the Valley of Rephaim. 19David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hands?” And the LORD answered David, “Go up, and I will deliver the Philistines into your hands.” 20Thereupon David marched to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me as waters break through [a dam].” That is why that place was named Baal-perazim.i 21The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
22Once again the Philistines marched up and spread out over the Valley of Rephaim. 23David inquired of the LORD, and He answered, “Do not go up, but circle around behind them and confront them at the bacac trees. 24And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the baca trees, then go into action, for the LORD will be going in front of you to attack the Philistine forces.” 25David did as the LORD had commanded him; and he routed the Philistines from Geba all the way to Gezer.
6 David again assembled all the picked men of Israel, thirty thousand strong. 2aThen David and all the troops that were with him set out from Baalimb of Judah to bring up from there the Ark of God to which the Name was attached, the name LORD of Hosts Enthroned on the Cherubim.
3They loaded the Ark of God onto a new cart and conveyed it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Abinadab’s sons, Uzza and Ahio, guided the c-new cart. 4They conveyed it from Abinadab’s house on the hill, [Uzzah walking]d alongside-c the Ark of God and Ahio walking in front of the Ark. 5Meanwhile, David and all the House of Israel danced before the LORD to e-[the sound of] all kinds of cypress wood [instruments],-e with lyres, harps, timbrels, sistrums, and cymbals.
6But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out for the Ark of God and grasped it, for the oxen had stumbled.f 7The LORD was incensed at Uzzah. And God struck him down on the spot g-for his indiscretion,-g and he died there beside the Ark of God. 8David was distressed because the LORD had inflicted a breach upon Uzzah; and that place was named Perez-uzzah,h as it is still called.
9David was afraid of the LORD that day; he said, “How can I let the Ark of the LORD come to me?” 10So David would not bring the Ark of the LORD to his place in the City of David; instead, David diverted it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11The Ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and his whole household.
12It was reported to King David: “The LORD has blessed Obed-edom’s house and all that belongs to him because of the Ark of God.” iThereupon David went and brought up the Ark of God from the house of Obededom to the City of David, amid rejoicing. 13When the bearers of the Ark of the LORD had moved forward six paces, he sacrificed j-an ox and a fatling.-j 14David whirled with all his might before the LORD; David was girt with a linen ephod. 15Thus David and all the House of Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with shouts and with blasts of the horn.
Vv. 12b–14 are found, with variations, in 1 Chron. 15.25–27; vv. 15–19a, with variations, in 1 Chron. 15.28–16.3; vv. 19b–20a, with variations, in 1 Chron. 16.43.
16As the Ark of the LORD entered the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him for it.
17They brought in the Ark of the LORD and set it up in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the LORD. 18When David finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts. 19And he distributed among all the people—the entire multitude of Israel, man and woman alike—to each a loaf of bread, f-a cake made in a pan, and a raisin cake.-f Then all the people left for their homes.
20David went home to greet his household. And Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “Didn’t the king of Israel do himself honor today—exposing himself today in the sight of the slavegirls of his subjects, as one of the riffraff might expose himself!” 21David answered Michal, “It was before the LORD who chose me instead of your father and all his family and appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel! I will dance before the LORD 22and dishonor myself even more, and be low in k-my own-k esteem; but among the slavegirls that you speak of I will be honored.” 23So to her dying day Michal daughter of Saul had no children.
7 aWhen the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had granted him safety from all the enemies around him, 2the king said to the prophet Nathan: “Here I am dwelling in a house of cedar, while the Ark of the LORD abides in a tent!” 3Nathan said to the king, “Go and do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.”
4But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan: 5“Go and say to My servant David: Thus said the LORD: Are you the one to build a house for Me to dwell in? 6From the day that I brought the people of Israel out of Egypt to this day I have not dwelt in a house, but have moved about in Tent and Tabernacle. 7As I moved about wherever the Israelites went, did I ever reproach any of the tribal leadersb whom I appointed to care for My people Israel: Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?
8“Further, say thus to My servant David: Thus said the LORD of Hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be ruler of My people Israel, 9and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut down all your enemies before you. Moreover, I will give you great renown like that of the greatest men on earth. 10I will establish a home for My people Israel and will plant them firm, so that they shall dwell secure and shall tremble no more. Evil men shall not oppress them any more as in the past, 11ever since I appointed chieftains over My people Israel. I will give you safety from all your enemies.
“The LORD declares to you that He, the LORD, will establish a housec for you. 12When your days are done and you lie with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own issue, and I will establish his kingship. 13He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. 14I
