1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to
David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

2 In times past, when Saul was king over
us, it was you who led Israel out and in.
Yahweh said to you, ‘You will be shepherd
of my people Israel, and you will be prince
over Israel.’ ”

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the
king to Hebron, and King David made a
covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over
Israel.

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

5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven
years and six months, and in Jerusalem he
reigned thirty-three years over all Israel
and Judah.

6 The king and his men went to
Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David,
saying, “The blind and the lame will keep
you out of here,” thinking, “David can’t
come in here.”

7 Nevertheless Davidtook the stronghold
of Zion. This is David’s city.

8 David said on that day, “Whoever
strikes the Jebusites, let him go up to the
watercourse and strike those lame and
blind, who are hated by David’s soul.”
Therefore they say, “The blind and the
lame can’t come into the house.”

9 David lived in the stronghold, and
called it David’s city. David built around
from Millo and inward.

10 David grew greater and greater, for
Yahweh, the God of Armies, was with him.

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

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