David’s Family Grows (2 Samuel 5:12–16)
1 UDB One day, Hiram, the king of the city of Tyre, sent some messengers to David to talk about making an agreement between their countries. Then Hiram sent cedar logs, bricklayers, and carpenters to build a palace for David. BSB BSB: Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters, to build a palace for him.
2 UDB When that happened, David knew that Yahweh had truly caused him to be the king of Israel and that he had caused his kingdom to be greatly respected. Yahweh did this because he loved his Israelite people. BSB BSB: And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had highly exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
3 UDB David married more women in Jerusalem, and those women gave birth to more sons and daughters for him. BSB BSB: And David took more wives in Jerusalem and became the father of more sons and daughters.
4 UDB The names of the children that were born to him there in Jerusalem are Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, BSB BSB: These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
5 UDB Ibhar, Elishama, Elpelet, BSB BSB: Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,
6 UDB Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, BSB BSB: Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,
7 UDB Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet. BSB BSB: Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
Two Victories over the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:17–25)
8 UDB When the army of Philistia heard that David has been appointed to be king of all of Israel, they went to try to capture him. But David heard that they were coming, so he and his soldiers went out to fight against them. BSB BSB: When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went out to face them.
9 UDB The army of Philistia had attacked the people in the Valley of Rephaim southwest of Jerusalem and had robbed them. BSB BSB: Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim.
10 UDB David asked God, "Should my men and I go and attack the army of Philistia? If we go, will you enable us to defeat them?" Yahweh replied, "Yes, go, and I will enable you to defeat them." BSB BSB: So David inquired of God, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go,” replied the LORD, “for I will deliver them into your hand.”
11 UDB So David and his men went up to a town where the soldiers of Philistia were staying and defeated the soldiers of Philistia. Then David said, "God has completely defeated my enemies by using me and my army." So they named that place "Baal Perazim," which means "The Lord breaks through." BSB BSB: So David and his men went up to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, God has burst out against my enemies by my hand.” So they called that place Baal-perazim.
12 UDB As the soldiers of Philistia fled, they left their idols there. So David commanded his soldiers to burn those idols. BSB BSB: There the Philistines abandoned their gods, and David ordered that they be burned in the fire.
13 UDB But soon the army of Philistia attacked the people in that valley again. BSB BSB: Once again the Philistines raided the valley.
14 UDB So again David prayed to God to ask him what he should do, and God replied, saying, "Do not attack the army of Philistia from the front. Instead, go around them and attack them from the rear in front of the balsam trees. BSB BSB: So David again inquired of God, who answered him, “Do not march up after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.
15 UDB When you hear something in the tops of the balsam trees that sounds like soldiers marching, attack them. I, God, will have gone ahead of you to enable you to defeat the army of Philistia." BSB BSB: As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle, because this will mean that God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
16 UDB So David did what God commanded him to do, and he and his army defeated the army of Philistia, all the way from the city of Gibeon west to the city of Gezer. BSB BSB: So David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
17 UDB So David became famous in all the nearby countries, and Yahweh caused the leaders of all the nations to be afraid of him. BSB BSB: And David’s fame went out into every land, and the LORD caused all nations to fear him.
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