The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

2 Samuel 5

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

2 Samuel chapter 5 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spoke, saying: 'Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.” — the complete text of all 25 verses is below, free to read online.

1Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spoke, saying: 'Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

2In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was thou that didst lead out and bring in Israel; and HaShem said to thee: Thou shalt feed My people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.'

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

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

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

6And 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.'

7Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.

8And 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.'

9And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

10And David waxed greater and greater; for HaShem, the G-d of hosts, was with him.

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

12And David perceived that HaShem had established him king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for His people Israel's sake.

13And 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.

14And these are the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon;

15and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia;

16and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.

17And 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.

18Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

19And David inquired of HaShem, saying: 'Shall I go up against the Philistines? wilt Thou deliver them into my hand?' And HaShem said unto David: 'Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into thy hand.'

20And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and he said: 'The HaShem hath broken mine enemies before me, like the breach of waters.' Therefore the name of that place was called Baal-perazim.

21And they left their images there, and David and his men took them away.

22And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

23And when David inquired of HaShem, He said: 'Thou shalt not go up; make a circuit behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees.

24And 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 HaShem gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.'

25And David did so, as HaShem commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gezer.

25 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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