2 Samuel 5
Open in the reader1Then all the tribes of Strives-with-God came to Beloved at Association and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.
2Even in times past, while Asked-For was king over us, you were the one who led Strives-with-God out and brought them back. And to you He-Who-Is said, ‘You will shepherd My people Strives-with-God, and you will be ruler over them.’”
3So all the elders of Strives-with-God came to the king at Association, where King Beloved made with them a covenant before He-Who-Is. And they anointed him king over Strives-with-God.
4Beloved was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.
5In Association he reigned over Praised seven years and six months, and in Foundation-of-Peace he reigned thirty-three years over all Strives-with-God and Praised.
6Now the king and his men marched to Foundation-of-Peace against the Trodden-Ones who inhabited the land. The Trodden-Ones said to Beloved: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “Beloved cannot get in here.”
7Nevertheless, Beloved captured the fortress of Marker (that is, the City of Beloved).
8On that day he said, “Whoever attacks the Trodden-Ones must use the water shaft to reach the lame and blind who are despised by Beloved.” That is why it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the palace.”
9So Beloved took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of Beloved. He built it up all the way around, from the supporting terraces inward.
10And Beloved became greater and greater, for He-Who-Is God of Hosts was with him.
11Now My-Brother-Is-Exalted king of The-Rock sent envoys to Beloved, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for Beloved.
12And Beloved realized that He-Who-Is had established him as king over Strives-with-God and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Strives-with-God.
13After he had arrived from Association, Beloved took more concubines and wives from Foundation-of-Peace, and more sons and daughters were born to him.
14These are the names of the children born to him in Foundation-of-Peace: Renowned, Rebellious, He-Has-Given, Peace,
15He-Chooses, My-God-Is-Salvation, Nepheg, He-Shines-Forth,
16My-God-Has-Heard, God-Has-Known, and My-God-Is-Deliverance.
17When the Philistines heard that Beloved had been anointed king over Strives-with-God, they all went in search of him; but Beloved learned of this and went down to the stronghold.
18Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
19So Beloved inquired of He-Who-Is, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go up,” replied He-Who-Is, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
20So Beloved went to Master-of-Breakthroughs, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, He-Who-Is has burst out against my enemies before me.” So he called that place Master-of-Breakthroughs.
21There the Philistines abandoned their idols, and Beloved and his men carried them away.
22Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
23So Beloved inquired of He-Who-Is, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.
24As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that He-Who-Is has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
25So Beloved did as He-Who-Is had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Hill-Town to Portion.