English / ERV
2 Samuel 5
Easy-to-Read Version, 2006
- 1All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. They said to David, “Look, we are one family[1]!
- 2Even when Saul was our king, you were the one who led us into battle. And you were the one who brought Israel back home from war. The LORD himself said to you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people, the Israelites. You will be the ruler over Israel.’”
- 3So all the leaders of Israel came to meet with King David at Hebron. He made an agreement with them in Hebron in front of the LORD, and they anointed David to be the king of Israel.
- 4David was 30 years old when he began to rule. He was king for 40 years.
- 5In Hebron he ruled over Judah for 7 years and 6 months, and in Jerusalem he ruled over all Israel and Judah for 33 years.
- 6The king and his men went to fight against the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites said to David, “You cannot come into our city.[2] Even our blind and crippled people can stop you.” (They said this because they thought that David would not be able to enter into their city.
- 7But David did take the fort of Zion. This fort became the City of David.)
- 8That day David said to his men, “Whenever you strike at the Jebusites, aim for the throat and kill them.”[3] David said this because he hates to have people left who are crippled and blind. That is why people now say, “The lame and blind are not allowed in the temple.[4]”
- 9David lived in the fort and called it “The City of David.” David built up the city from the Millo[5] inward.[6]
- 10He became stronger and stronger because the LORD All-Powerful was with him.
- 11King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David. He also sent cedar trees, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a house for David.
- Then David knew that the LORD had really made him king of Israel and had made him ruler over his kingdom for the good of his people, Israel.