All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. They said to him that they were his own flesh and blood. They reminded him that in the past, when Saul was king over them, it was David who led Israel on their military campaigns. They also reminded him that the LORD had spoken concerning him, saying that David would shepherd His people Israel and become their ruler.
When all the elders of Israel came to King David at Hebron, David made a covenant with them there before the LORD. After this agreement was made, they anointed David king over Israel.
David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years. In Hebron, he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months. In Jerusalem, he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.
David and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites who lived there. The Jebusites mocked David, telling him that he would not get into the city and that even the blind and the lame could ward him off. They believed David could not enter the city. However, David captured the fortress of Zion, which became known as the City of David.
On that day, David said that anyone who conquered the Jebusites would have to use the water shaft to reach those David called the lame and the blind, his enemies. Because of this saying, people later said that the blind and the lame would not enter the palace.
David took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, starting from the supporting terraces and working inward. David became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him.
Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a palace for David. Through this, David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
After David left Hebron, he took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. The children born to him in Jerusalem were named Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him. When David heard about it, he went down to the stronghold. The Philistines had spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
David inquired of the LORD, asking whether he should go and attack the Philistines and whether the LORD would hand them over to him. The LORD answered David, telling him to go and assuring him that He would surely hand the Philistines over to him.
David went to Baal Perazim and defeated the Philistines there. He said that just as waters break out, the LORD had broken out against his enemies before him. Because of this, that place was called Baal Perazim. The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
Once again, the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. David inquired of the LORD again, and the LORD answered him differently this time. He told David not to go straight up, but to circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. The LORD told David that when he heard the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, he should move quickly, because that would mean the LORD had gone out in front of him to strike the Philistine army.
David did exactly as the LORD commanded him. He struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.