Common English Bible CEB
The Message Bible MSG
1 All the Israelite tribes came to David at Hebron and said, "Listen: We are your very own flesh and bone.
1
Before long all the tribes of Israel approached David in Hebron and said, "Look at us - your own flesh and blood!
2 In the past, when Saul ruled over us, you were the one who led Israel out to war and back. What's more, the LORD told you, You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be Israel's leader.
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In time past when Saul was our king, you're the one who really ran the country. Even then God said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel and you'll be the prince.'"
3 So all the Israelite elders came to the king at Hebron. King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.
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All the leaders of Israel met with King David at Hebron, and the king made a treaty with them in the presence of God. And so they anointed David king over Israel.
4 David was 30 years old when he became king, and he ruled for forty years.
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David was thirty years old when he became king, and ruled for forty years.
5 He ruled over Judah for seven and a half years in Hebron. He ruled thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah in Jerusalem.
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In Hebron he ruled Judah for seven and a half years. In Jerusalem he ruled all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.
6 The king and his troops marched on Jerusalem against the Jebusites, who inhabited the territory. The Jebusites said to David, "You'll never get us in here! Even the blind and the lame will beat you back!""David will never enter here," they said to each other.
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David and his men immediately set out for Jerusalem to take on the Jebusites, who lived in that country. But they said, "You might as well go home! Even the blind and the lame could keep you out. You can't get in here!" They had convinced themselves that David couldn't break through.
7 But David did capture the fortress of Zion—which became David's City.
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But David went right ahead and captured the fortress of Zion, known ever since as the City of David.
8 "On that day," David said, "whoever attacks the Jebusites should strike the windpipe because David hates the lame and the blind." That is why people say, "The blind and the lame will not enter the temple."
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That day David said, "To get the best of these Jebusites, one must target the water system, not to mention this so-called lame and blind bunch that David hates." (In fact, he was so sick and tired of it, people coined the expression, "No lame and blind allowed in the palace.")
9 David occupied the fortress, so it was renamed David's City. David built a city around it from the earthen terraces inward.
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David made the fortress city his home and named it "City of David." He developed the city from the outside terraces inward.
10 David grew increasingly powerful, and the LORD of heavenly forces was with him.
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David proceeded with a longer stride, a larger embrace since the God-of-the-Angel-Armies was with him.
11 Tyre's King Hiram sent messengers to David with cedar logs, bricklayers, and carpenters to build David a palace.
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It was at this time that Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, along with timbers of cedar. He also sent carpenters and masons to build a house for David.
12 Then David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingship was held in great honor for the sake of his people Israel.
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David took this as a sign that God had confirmed him as king of Israel, giving his kingship world prominence for the sake of Israel, his people.
13 After he left Hebron, David married more secondary wives in Jerusalem and fathered more sons and daughters.
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David took on more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he left Hebron. And more sons and daughters were born to him.
14 The names of his children in Jerusalem were as follows: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
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These are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
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Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
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Elishama, Eliada, Eliphelet.
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all marched up to find him, but David heard of it and went down to the fortress.
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When the Philistines got word that David had been made king over all Israel, they came on the hunt for him. David heard of it and went down to the stronghold.
18 The Philistines arrived and spread out over the Rephaim Valley.
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When the Philistines arrived, they deployed their forces in Raphaim Valley.
19 David asked the LORD, "Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" "Attack them," the LORD replied, "because I will definitely hand the Philistines over to you."
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Then David prayed to God: "Shall I go up and fight the Philistines? Will you help me beat them?"
20 So David arrived at Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. He said, "The LORD has burst out against my enemies, the way water bursts out!" That is why that place is called Baal-perazim.
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"Go up," God replied. "Count on me. I'll help you beat them."
21 The Philistines left their divine images behind, and David and his men carried them off.
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The retreating Philistines dumped their idols, and David and his soldiers took them away.
22 Once again the Philistines came up and spread out across the Rephaim Valley.
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Later there was a repeat performance. The Philistines came up again and deployed their troops in the Rephaim Valley.
23 When David asked the LORD, God replied, "Don't attack them directly. Circle around behind them and come at them from in front of the balsam trees.
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David again prayed to God.
24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, then attack, for God has attacked in front of you to defeat the Philistine army."
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When you hear the sound of shuffling in the trees, get ready to move out. It's a signal that God is going ahead of you to smash the Philistine camp."
25 David followed God's orders exactly, and they defeated the Philistine army from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.
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David did exactly what God told him. He routed the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.