Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

The tribes of Israel came to Hebron, where they said to King David, "You are our bone and flesh." In the past, when Saul was king over us, you led Israel out and brought them back in. The Lord had spoken to you, saying, "You will be a shepherd to my people Israel, and you will be a leader over Israel."

All the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron, and he made a covenant with them before the Lord. They anointed him king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for forty years. In Hebron he ruled over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.

The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, who said, "Unless you remove the blind and the lame, you will not enter." David took control of Zion, which is also known as the city of David. He built a stronghold there and named it the city of David.

David declared that anyone who struck down the detested Jebusites would be chief and captain. As a result, people said, "The blind and the lame cannot come into the house." David dwelled in the stronghold and expanded its walls from Millo inward. He continued to grow stronger and more influential, with the Lord God of hosts remaining with him.

Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, carpenters, and masons who built David a house. The Lord had established David as king over Israel, exalting his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. David took more wives and concubines in Jerusalem after coming from Hebron, and he had sons and daughters born to him there.

These are some of the children born to David in Jerusalem: Shammuah, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphalet. When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they came up to seek him out. David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.

The Philistines spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim, and David asked the Lord if he should attack them. The Lord said, "Go up; I will deliver the Philistines into your hand." David went to Baalperazim, where he defeated the Philistines, saying, "The Lord has broken through against my enemies before me, like a bursting flood."

David and his men burned the Philistine idols left behind. The Philistines came up again and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. David asked the Lord if he should attack them, but this time the answer was different. Instead of going straight at them, David took a circuitous route behind them, attacking from the opposite direction of the mulberry trees.

When David heard the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, he knew it was the signal to strike. The Lord had gone out before him to attack the Philistine army, and David followed his instructions, defeating them from Geba all the way to Gazer.