2 Samuel 5:11–25

¹¹So Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, along with cedar trees and craftsmen skilled in wood and in stone masonry,ⁱ and they built a house for David. ¹²David realized that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom because of his people Israel. ¹³David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to him. ¹⁴These are the names of the ones born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua and Shobab and Nathan and Solomon; ¹⁵Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia; ¹⁶Elishama and Eliada and Eliphelet.

War with the Philistines

¹⁷When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David as king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David, but David heard and went down to the stronghold.^{j 18}Now the Philistines had come, and they spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁹And David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up to the Philistines? Will you give them into my hands?” Yahweh said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give^k the Philistines into your hand.” ²⁰So David came to Baal Perazim and defeated them there; and David said, “Yahweh has burst through my enemies before me like the bursting of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.^{l 21}They had left their idols there, so David and his men carried them away.

²²Once again^m the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. ²³So David inquired of Yahweh, but he said, “You shall not go up. Rather, go around to their rear and come to them from opposite the balsam trees. ²⁴And it shall beⁿ that when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then pay attention, for then Yahweh has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” ²⁵So David did thus, just as Yahweh had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Geba all the way^o to Gezer.