David Reigns Over All Israel

5 Then all the tribes of Israel acame to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed bwe are your bone and your flesh. 2 Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, cyou were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord said to you, d‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ” 3 eTherefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, fand King David made a covenant with them at Hebron gbefore the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was hthirty years old when he began to reign, and ihe reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah jseven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

The Conquest of Jerusalem

6 kAnd the king and his men went to Jerusalem against lthe Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion m(that is, the City of David).

8 Now David said on that day, “Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul), nhe shall be chief and captain.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”

9 Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it othe City of David. And David built all around from 1the Millo and inward. 10 So David went on and became great, and pthe Lord God of hosts was with qhim.

11 Then rHiram sking of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house. 12 So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had texalted His kingdom ufor the sake of His people Israel.