2 Samuel 5
1All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood.
2In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’”
3When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at 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 marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, 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.”
7Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David.
8On that day, David said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those ‘lame and blind’ who are David’s enemies.” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”
9David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the supporting terraces inward.
10And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.
11Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.
12And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom 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 him.
14These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
16Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.
17When 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.
18Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;
19so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you.”
20So 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.
21The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
22Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;
23so 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 balsam trees.
24As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.”
25So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
2 Samuel 5 | NIV 84
Psalm 48
1Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
2It is beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth. Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King.
3God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress.
4When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together,
5they saw her and were astounded; they fled in terror.
6Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor.
7You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish shattered by an east wind.
8As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord Almighty, in the city of our God: God makes her secure forever. Selah
9Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.
10Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments.
12Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers,
13consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation.
14For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.
Psalm 48 | NIV 84