1 ^zThen all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, ^awe are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be ^bprince¹ over Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David ^cmade a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was ^dthirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.²

6 ^eAnd the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, ^fthe inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 7 Nevertheless, David took the ^gstronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 8 And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” 9 And David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built the city all around from the Millo inward. 10 ^hAnd David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was ⁱwith him.