¹All Israel gathered around David at Hebron. “We are your own flesh and blood,” they said. ²“Even in the past when Saul ruled, you were the one who led Israel on its campaigns to war. The Lord your God has said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, the leader of my people Israel.’ ”

³All the leaders of Israel had come to Hebron. David made an agreement with them at Hebron in front of the Lord. So they anointed David king of Israel, as the Lord had spoken through Samuel.

David Captures Jerusalem—2 Samuel 5:6–10

⁴David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites were living in that region. ⁵They told David, “You will never get in here.” But David captured the fortress Zion (that is, the City of David).

⁶Now, David said, “Whoever is the first to kill a Jebusite will be made a general and a prince.” Zeruiah’s son Joab was the first to go ⸤into Jerusalem⸥, so he became the general.

⁷David lived in the fortress, so it was called the City of David. ⁸He built the city ⸤of Jerusalem⸥ around it, starting from the Millo^aand making a complete circuit. Joab rebuilt the rest of the city. ⁹David continued to grow more powerful because the Lord of Armies was with him.

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Footnotes

a 11:8 The exact place referred to as “the Millo” is unknown.