David Crowned Over All Israel

2 Samuel 5

All the tribes of Israel come to Hebron and anoint David king over the whole nation, and he captures the Jebusite stronghold of Zion, making it the city of David. Hiram of Tyre sends materials to build David a house, and David twice defeats the Philistines after inquiring of the Lord.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonTHEN all the tribes of Israel came to David to Chebron and said to him, Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh.

BrentonAnd all the tribes of Israel come to David to Chebron, and they said to him, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

GreekΚαὶ παραγίνονται πᾶσαι αἱ φυλαὶ Ἰσραὴλ πρὸς Δαυὶδ εἰς Χεβρὼν, καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ, ἰδοὺ ὀστᾶ σου, καὶ σάρκες σου ἡμεῖς.

KJVThen came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

JPSThen came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spoke, saying: ‘Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

ThomsonHeretofore, while Saul was king over us, It was thou who didst lead out and bring in Israel; and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed My people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over My people Israel.

BrentonAnd heretofore Saul being king over us, thou wast he that didst lead out and bring in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be for a leader to my people Israel.

GreekΚαὶ ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην ὄντος Σαοὺλ βασιλέως ἐφʼ ἡμῖν, σὺ ἦσθα ὁ ἐξάγων καὶ εἰσάγων τὸν Ἰσραήλ· καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς σὲ, σὺ ποιμανεῖς τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ σὺ ἔσῃ εἰς ἡγούμενον ἐπὶ τὸν λαόν μου Ἰσραήλ.

KJVAlso 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.

JPSIn times past, when Saul was king over us, it was thou that didst lead out and bring in Israel; and the LORD said to thee: Thou shalt feed My people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.’

ThomsonAnd when all the elders of Israel came to David to Chebron, king David made a covenant with them at Chebron, before the Lord, and they anointed David to be king over all Israel.

BrentonAnd all the elders of Israel come to the king to Chebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Chebron before the Lord; and they anoint David king over all Israel.

GreekΚαὶ ἔρχονται πάντες οἱ πρεσβύτεροι Ἰσραὴλ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα εἰς Χεβρὼν, καὶ διέθετο αὐτοῖς ὁ βασιλεὺς Δαυὶδ διαθήκην ἐν Χεβρὼν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου· καὶ χρίουσι τὸν Δαυὶδ εἰς βασιλέα ἐπὶ πάντα Ἰσραήλ.

KJVSo 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.

JPSSo all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel.

ThomsonDavid was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

BrentonDavid was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

GreekΥἱὸς τριάκοντα ἐτῶν Δαυὶδ ἐν τῷ βασιλεῦσαι αὐτόν, καὶ τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη ἐβασίλευσεν.

KJVDavid was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

JPSDavid was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

ThomsonSeven years and six months he reigned at Chebron over Juda, and he reigned thirty-three years, over all Israel and Juda, at Jerusalem.

BrentonSeven years and six months he reigned in Chebron over Juda, and thirty-three years he reigned over all Israel and Juda in Jerusalem.

GreekἙπτὰ ἔτη καὶ μῆνας ἓξ ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν Χεβρὼν ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰούδαν, καὶ τριάκοντα τρία ἔτη ἐβασίλευσεν ἐπὶ πάντα Ἰσραὴλ καὶ Ἰούδαν ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ.

KJVIn Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

JPSIn Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

ThomsonWhen David and his men went to Jerusalem, to the Jebusites who inhabited that land, it was said to David, Thou shalt not come here; for the blind and the lame are opposed to it, saying, David shall not come here.

BrentonAnd David and his men departed to Jerusalem, to the Jebusite that inhabited the land: and it was said to David, Thou shalt not come in hither: for the blind and the lame withstood him, saying, David shall not come in hither.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπῆλθε Δαυὶδ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ πρὸς τὸν Ἱεβουσαῖον τὸν κατοικοῦντα τὴν γῆν· καὶ ἐῤῥέθη τῷ Δαυὶδ, οὐκ εἰσελεύσῃ ὧδε, ὅτι ἀντέστησαν οἱ τυφλοὶ καὶ οἱ χωλοὶ, λέγοντες, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσελεύσεται Δαυὶδ ὧδε.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke unto David, saying: ‘Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither’; thinking: ‘David cannot come in hither.’

ThomsonSo when David took the fortress, Zion, the same is the city of David,

BrentonAnd David took first the hold of Sion: this is the city of David.

GreekΚαὶ προκατελάβετο Δαυὶδ τὴν περιοχὴν Σιών· αὕτη ἡ πόλις τοῦ Δαυίδ.

KJVNevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.

JPSNevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.

Thomsonon that day David said, Whoever smiteth the Jebusites, let him also dispatch with a dagger those lame and those blind, even them who hate the soul of David: for this cause they say, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house of the Lord.

BrentonAnd David said on that day, Every one that smites the Jebusite, let him attack with the dagger both the lame and the blind, and those that hate the soul of David. Therefore they say, The lame and the blind shall not enter into the house of the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Δαυὶδ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, πᾶς τύπτων Ἰεβουσαῖον, ἁπτέσθω ἐν παραξιφίδι καὶ τοὺς χωλοὺς καὶ τοὺς τυφλοὺς καὶ τοὺς μισοῦντας τὴν ψυχὴν Δαυίδ. Διὰ τοῦτο ἐροῦσι, τυφλοὶ καὶ χωλοὶ οὐκ εἰσελεύσοντάι εἰς οἶκον Κυρίου.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd David said on that day: ‘Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, and getteth up to the gutter, and [taketh away] the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul—.’ Wherefore they say: ‘There are the blind and the lame; he cannot come into the house.’

ThomsonAnd David made his abode in the fort, so it was called the city of David. And David built the city, around the citadel and his own house.

BrentonAnd David dwelt in the hold, and it was called the city of David, and he built the city itself round about from the citadel, and he built his own house.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκάθισε Δαυὶδ ἐν τῇ περιοχῇ, καὶ ἐκλήθη αὕτη ἡ πόλις Δαυίδ· καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν αὐτὴν πόλιν κύκλῳ ἀπὸ τῆς ἄκρας, καὶ τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ.

KJVSo David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

JPSAnd David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

ThomsonAnd David advanced in prosperity, and grandeur, and the Lord Almighty was with him.

BrentonAnd David advanced and became great, and the Lord Almighty was with him.

GreekΚαὶ διεπορεύετο Δαυὶδ πορευόμενος καὶ μεγαλυνόμενος, καὶ Κύριος παντοκράτωρ μετʼ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.

JPSAnd David waxed greater and greater; for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him. .

ThomsonAnd Chiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, with cedar timber, and carpenters, and masons, and they built a house for David.

BrentonAnd Chiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar wood, and carpenters, and stone-masons: and they built a house for David.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπέστειλε Χειρὰμ βασιλεὺς Τύρου ἀγγέλους πρὸς Δαυὶδ, καὶ ξύλα κέδρινα, καὶ τέκτονας ξύλων, καὶ τέκτονας λίθων, καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν οἶκον τῷ Δαυίδ.

KJVAnd Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.

JPSAnd Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.

ThomsonWhen David perceived that the Lord had prepared him to be king over Israel, and that his kingdom was exalted for the sake of His people Israel,

BrentonAnd David knew that the Lord had prepared him to be king over Israel, and that his kingdom was exalted for the sake of his people Israel.

GreekΚαὶ ἔγνω Δαυὶδ, ὅτι ἡτοίμασεν αὐτὸν Κύριος εἰς βασιλέα ἐπὶ Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ὅτι ἐπῄρθη ἡ βασιλεία αὐτοῦ διὰ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ Ἰσραήλ.

KJVAnd David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.

JPSAnd David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for His people Israel’s sake.

ThomsonDavid took still more wives and concubines out of Jerusalem, after he came from Chebron. And David had still more sons and daughters born to him.

BrentonAnd David took again wives and concubines out of Jerusalem, after he came from Chebron: and David had still more sons and daughters born to him.

GreekΚαὶ ἔλαβε Δαυὶδ ἔτι γυναῖκας καὶ παλλακὰς ἐξ Ἰερουσαλὴμ, μετὰ τὸ ἐλθεῖν αὐτὸν ἐκ Χεβρών· καὶ ἐγένοντο τῷ Δαυὶδ ἔτι υἱοὶ καὶ θυγατέρες.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd 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.

ThomsonNow these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem. Sammus, and Sobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

BrentonAnd these are the names of those that were born to him in Jerusalem; Sammus, and Sobab, and Nathan, and Solomon.

GreekΚαὶ ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν γεννηθέντων αὐτῷ ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ· Σαμμοὺς, καὶ Σωβὰβ, καὶ Νάθαν, καὶ Σαλωμὼν,

KJVAnd these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

JPSAnd these are the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon;

Thomsonand Ebear, and Elisue, and Naphek, and Jephies,

BrentonAnd Ebear, and Elisue, and Naphec, and Jephies.

Greekκαὶ Ἐβεὰρ, καὶ Ἐλισουὲ, καὶ Ναφὲκ, καὶ Ἰεφιὲς,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand Elisama, and Elidae, and Eliphalath, Samae, Jesibath, Nathan, Galamaan, Jebar, Theesus, Eliphalat, Naged, Naphek, Jonathan, Leasamus, Baalimath, Eliphaath.

BrentonAnd Elisama, and Elidae, and Eliphalath,

Greekκαὶ Ἐλισαμὰ, καὶ Ἐλιδαὲ, καὶ Ἐλιφαλὰθ,

KJV—

JPS—

16a

Thomson—

BrentonSamae, Jessibath, Nathan, Galamaan, Jebaar, Theësus, Eliphalat, Naged, Naphec, Janathan, Leasamys, Baalimath, Eliphaath.

GreekΣαμαὲ, Ἰεσσιβὰθ, Νάθαν, Γαλαμαὰν, Ἰεβαὰρ, Θεησοῦς, Ἐλιφαλὰτ, Ναγὲδ, Ναφὲκ, Ἰανάθαν, Λεασαμὺς, Βααλιμὰθ, Ἐλιφαάθ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonWhen the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and when David heard he went down to the fort.

BrentonAnd the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over Israel; and all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the strong hold.

GreekΚαὶ ἤκουσαν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι ὅτι κέχρισται Δαυὶδ βασιλεὺς ἐπὶ Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ἀνέβησαν πάντες οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι ζητεῖν τὸν Δαυίδ· καὶ ἤκουσε Δαυὶδ, καὶ κατέβη εἰς τὴν περιοχήν.

KJVBut 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.

JPSAnd when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.

ThomsonAnd the Philistines came, and made an irruption into the valley of the Titans.

BrentonAnd the Philistines came, and assembled in the valley of the giants.

GreekΚαὶ οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι παραγίνονται, καὶ συνέπεσαν εἰς τὴν κοιλάδα τῶν Τιτάνων.

KJVThe Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

JPSNow the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

ThomsonWhereupon David inquired of the Lord saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into my hands? And the Lord said to David, Go up; for I will assuredly deliver the Philistines into thy hands.

BrentonAnd David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into my hands? and the Lord said to David, Go up, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into thine hands.

GreekΚαὶ ἠρώτησε Δαυὶδ διὰ Κυρίου, λέγων, εἰ ἀναβῶ πρὸς τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους, καὶ παραδώσεις αὐτοὺς εἰς τὰς χεῖράς μου; καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Δαυὶδ, ἀνάβαινε, ὅτι παραδιδοὺς παραδώσω τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους εἰς τὰς χεῖράς σου.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd David inquired of the LORD, saying: ‘Shall I go up against the Philistines? wilt Thou deliver them into my hand?’ And the LORD said unto David: ‘Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into thy hand.’

ThomsonSo David went out through Upper breaks, and smote the Philistines there. Whereupon David said, The Lord broke through the Philistine enemies before me, as waters burst through mounds. For this cause the name of that place was called Upper breaks.

BrentonAnd David came from Upper Breaches, and smote the Philistines there: and David said, The Lord has destroyed the hostile Philistines before me, as water is dispersed; therefore the name of that place was called Over Breaches.

GreekΚαὶ ἦλθε Δαυὶδ ἐκ τῶν ἐπάνω διακοπῶν, καὶ ἔκοψε τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους ἐκεῖ· καὶ εἶπε Δαυὶδ, διέκοψε Κύριος τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ἀλλοφύλους ἐνώπιον ἐμοῦ, ὡς διακόπτεται ὕδατα· διὰ τοῦτο ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου, Ἐπάνω διακοπῶν.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and he said: ‘The LORD hath broken mine enemies before me, like the breach of waters.’ Therefore the name of that place was called Baal-perazim.

ThomsonAnd there they left their gods; and David and the men who were with him took them.

BrentonAnd they leave there their gods, and David and his men with him took them.

GreekΚαὶ καταλιμπάνουσιν ἐκεῖ τοὺς θεοὺς αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐλάβοσαν αὐτοὺς Δαυὶδ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες οἱ μετʼ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.

JPSAnd they left their images there, and David and his men took them away.

ThomsonAgain the Philistines proceeded to come up, and made another irruption into the valley of the Titans.

BrentonAnd the Philistines came up yet again, and assembled in the valley of Giants.

GreekΚαὶ προσέθεντο ἔτι ἀλλόφυλοι τοῦ ἀναβῆναι, καὶ συνέπεσαν ἐν τῇ κοιλάδι τῶν Τιτάνων.

KJVAnd the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

JPSAnd the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

ThomsonAnd when David inquired of the Lord, the Lord said, Thou shalt not go up to meet them in front. Wheel about from them, and come upon them near Wailing.

BrentonAnd David enquired of the Lord: and the Lord said, Thou shalt not go up to meet them: turn from them, and thou shalt meet them near the place of weeping.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπηρώτησε Δαυὶδ διὰ Κυρίου· καὶ εἶπε Κύριος, οὐκ ἀναβήσῃ εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῶν, ἀποστρέφου ἀπʼ αὐτῶν, καὶ παρέσῃ αὐτοῖς πλησίον τοῦ κλαυθμῶνος.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd when David inquired of the LORD, He said: ‘Thou shalt not go up; make a circuit behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees.

ThomsonAnd when thou hearest the sound of a rustling in the grove of Wailing, then thou shalt go down against them; for the Lord will then go out before thee, to smite in the battle of the Philistines.

BrentonAnd it shall come to pass when thou hearest the sound of a clashing together from the grove of weeping, then thou shalt go down to them, for then the Lord shall go forth before thee to make havoc in the battle with the Philistines.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ ἀκοῦσαί σε τὴν φωνὴν τοῦ συγκλεισμοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἄλσους τοῦ κλαυθμῶνος, τότε καταβήσῃ πρὸς αὐτούς, ὅτι τότε ἐξελεύσεται Κύριος ἔμπροσθέν σου κόπτειν ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then is the LORD gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.’

ThomsonAnd David did as the Lord commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Gabaon to the land of Gazera.

BrentonAnd David did as the Lord commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Gabaon as far as the land of Gazera.

GreekΚαὶ ἐποιήσε Δαυὶδ καθὼς ἐνετείλατο αὐτῷ Κύριος, καὶ ἐπάταξε τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους ἀπὸ Γαβαὼν ἕως τῆς γῆς Γαζηρά.

KJVAnd David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.

JPSAnd David did so, as the LORD commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gezer.