2nd Shamu'AL (2 Samuel) — 5

Daud Becomes King of All Yashar'AL 

1 Then all the tribes of Yashar'AL went to Daud at Habrun and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood. 

2 In the past, when Shaul was our king, you were the one who really led the forces of Yashar'AL. And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Yashar'AL. You will be Yashar'AL’s leader.’”

3 So there at Habrun, King Daud made a covenant before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH with all the elders of Yashar'AL. And they anointed him king of Yashar'AL.

4 Daud was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in all. 

5 He had reigned over Yahudah from Habrun for seven years and six months, and from Yahushalam he reigned over all Yashar'AL and Yahudah for thirty-three years.

Daud Captures Yahushalam 

6 Daud then led his men to Yahushalam to fight against the Yabusites, the original inhabitants of the land who were living there. The Yabusites taunted Daud, saying, “You’ll never get in here! Even the blind and lame could keep you out!” For the Yabusites thought they were safe. 

7 But Daud captured the fortress of Ziun, which is now called the City of Daud.

8 On the day of the attack, Daud said to his troops, “I hate those ‘lame’ and ‘blind’ Yabusites. Whoever attacks them should strike by going into the city through the water tunnel.” That is the origin of the saying, “The blind and the lame may not enter the house.”

9 So Daud made the fortress his home, and he called it the City of Daud. He extended the city, starting at the supporting terraces and working inward. 

10 And Daud became more and more powerful, because 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Tsaba'ut was with him.

11 Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to Daud, along with cedar timber and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built Daud a palace. 

12 And Daud realized that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  had confirmed him as king over Yashar'AL and had Baraked his kingdom for the sake of his people Yashar'AL.

13 After moving from Habrun to Yahushalam, Daud married more concubines and wives, and they had more sons and daughters. 

14 These are the names of Daud’s sons who were born in Yahushalam: Shammua, Shubab, Nathan, Shaluma, 

15 Ibhar, Alishua, Naphag, Yaphia, 

16 Alishama, Aliada, and Aliphalat.

Daud Conquers the Philistines

17 When the Philistines heard that Daud had been anointed king of Yashar'AL, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But Daud was told they were coming, so he went into the stronghold. 

18 The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Raphaim. 

19 So Daud asked 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH replied to Daud, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”

20 So Daud went to Baal-parazim and defeated the Philistines there. And Daud said “𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH did it! “𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So Daud named that place Parazim (which means “𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH who bursts through”). 

21 The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so Daud and his men confiscated them.

22 But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Raphaim. 

23 And again Daud asked 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  what to do. “and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar to Daud; do not attack them straight on, “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. 

24 When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” 

25 So Daud did what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibaun to Gazar.