The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 Before long all the tribes of Israel approached David in Hebron and said, "Look at us - your own flesh and blood!
1
Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
2 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.'"
2
Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.
3 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.
3
So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.
4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and ruled for forty years.
4
David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5 In Hebron he ruled Judah for seven and a half years. In Jerusalem he ruled all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.
5
In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.
6 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.
6
And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.
7 But David went right ahead and captured the fortress of Zion, known ever since as the City of David.
7
Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
8 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.")
8
And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.
9 David made the fortress city his home and named it "City of David." He developed the city from the outside terraces inward.
9
So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
10 David proceeded with a longer stride, a larger embrace since the God-of-the-Angel-Armies was with him.
10
And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.
11 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.
11
And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
12 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.
12
And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.
13 David took on more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he left Hebron. And more sons and daughters were born to him.
13
And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
14 These are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
14
And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
15
Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
16 Elishama, Eliada, Eliphelet.
16
And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
17 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.
17
But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.
18 When the Philistines arrived, they deployed their forces in Raphaim Valley.
18
The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
19 Then David prayed to God: "Shall I go up and fight the Philistines? Will you help me beat them?"
19
And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
20 "Go up," God replied. "Count on me. I'll help you beat them."
20
And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.
21 The retreating Philistines dumped their idols, and David and his soldiers took them away.
21
And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.
22 Later there was a repeat performance. The Philistines came up again and deployed their troops in the Rephaim Valley.
22
And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
23 David again prayed to God.
23
And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
24 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."
24
And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.
25 David did exactly what God told him. He routed the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
25
And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.