2 Samuel 5:1-10

1All Israel's tribes came to David at Hebron. They said, ‘We all belong to the same family as you do.

2In the past, when Saul ruled over us as king, you were the leader of Israel's army in the wars. The Lord said to you, “You will take care of my people as a shepherd takes care of his sheep. You will rule over Israel.” ’

3So King David made an agreement with the leaders of Israel when they came to him at Hebron. They made promises in the Lord's name. Then they anointed David to be king over Israel.

4David was 30 years old when he became king. He ruled Israel as king for 40 years.

5He ruled over Judah in Hebron for seven years and six months. And in Jerusalem he ruled over all Israel and Judah for 33 years.

6King David and his soldiers marched to Jerusalem. They went to attack the Jebusites who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, ‘You will never get into our city. Even blind men and those who are lame could keep you out.’ They thought, ‘David will never get in here.’

7But David did get in and he took Zion, the city's strong place. It is now called ‘The City of David’.

8On that day, David said to his men, ‘We must attack my enemies, the Jebusites. To do that, we must go into the city through the water tunnel. Then we will see if their blind and lame people can stop us! I hate them all.’ That is why people still say, ‘Anybody who is blind or lame must not go into the palace.’

9Then David went to live in the strong place of the city. He called it ‘The City of David’. He built more houses all around it, from the edge of the hill into the city.

10David became more and more powerful because the Lord God Almighty was with him.