5Before long all the tribes of Israel approached David in Hebron and said, "Look at us—your own flesh and blood!H935H7626H3478H1732H2275H559H559H6106H13202In time past when Saul was our king, you're the one who really ran the country. Even then GOD said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel and you'll be the prince.'"H865H8032H7586H4428H3318H935H3478H3068H559H7462H5971H3478H5057H34783All the leaders of Israel met with King David at Hebron, and the king made a treaty with them in the presence of GOD. And so they anointed David king over Israel.H2205H3478H935H4428H2275H4428H1732H3772H1285H2275H6440H3068H4886H1732H4428H34784David was thirty years old when he became king, and ruled for forty years.H1732H7970H8141H1121H4427H4427H705H81415In Hebron he ruled Judah for seven and a half years. In Jerusalem he ruled all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.H2275H4427H3063H7651H8141H8337H2320H3389H4427H7970H7969H8141H3478H30636David and his men immediately set out for Jerusalem to take on the Jebusites, who lived in that country. But they said, "You might as well go home! Even the blind and the lame could keep you out. You can't get in here!" They had convinced themselves that David couldn't break through.H4428H582H3212H3389H2983H3427H776H559H1732H559H5493H5787H6455H935H559H1732H9357But David went right ahead and captured the fortress of Zion, known ever since as the City of David.H1732H3920H4686H6726H5892H17328That day David said, "To get the best of these Jebusites, one must target the water system, not to mention this so-called lame and blind bunch that David hates." (In fact, he was so sick and tired of it, people coined the expression, "No lame and blind allowed in the palace.")H1732H559H3117H5060H6794H5221H2983H6455H5787H8130H1732H5315H559H5787H6455H935H10049David made the fortress city his home and named it "City of David." He developed the city from the outside terraces inward.H1732H3427H4686H7121H5892H1732H1732H1129H5439H4407H100410David proceeded with a longer stride, a larger embrace since the GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies was with him.H1732H3212H1980H1419H3068H430H663511It was at this time that Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, along with timbers of cedar. He also sent carpenters and masons to build a house for David.H2438H4428H6865H7971H4397H1732H730H6086H2796H7023H68H1129H1732H100412David took this as a sign that GOD had confirmed him as king of Israel, giving his kingship world prominence for the sake of Israel, his people.H1732H3045H3068H3559H4428H3478H5375H4467H5971H347813David took on more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he left Hebron. And more sons and daughters were born to him.H1732H3947H6370H802H3389H310H935H2275H1121H1323H3205H173214These are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,H8034H3209H3389H8051H7727H5416H801015Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,H2984H474H5298H330916Elishama, Eliada, Eliphelet.H476H450H46717When the Philistines got word that David had been made king over all Israel, they came on the hunt for him. David heard of it and went down to the stronghold.H6430H8085H4886H1732H4428H3478H6430H5927H1245H1732H1732H8085H3381H468618When the Philistines arrived, they deployed their forces in Raphaim Valley.H6430H935H5203H6010H749719Then David prayed to GOD: "Shall I go up and fight the Philistines? Will you help me beat them?"H1732H7592H3068H559H5927H6430H5414H3027H3068H559H1732H5927H5414H5414H6430H302720"Go up," GOD replied. "Count on me. I'll help you beat them." David then went straight to Baal Perazim, and smashed them to pieces. Afterwards David said, "GOD exploded on my enemies like a gush of water." That's why David named the place Baal Perazim (The-Master-Who-Explodes).H1732H935H1188H1732H5221H559H3068H6555H341H6440H6556H4325H7121H8034H4725H118821The retreating Philistines dumped their idols, and David and his soldiers took them away.H5800H6091H1732H582H537522Later there was a repeat performance. The Philistines came up again and deployed their troops in the Rephaim Valley.H6430H5927H3254H5203H6010H749723David again prayed to GOD. This time GOD said, "Don't attack them head-on. Instead, circle around behind them and ambush them from the grove of sacred trees.H1732H7592H3068H559H5927H5437H310H935H4136H105724When you hear the sound of shuffling in the trees, get ready to move out. It's a signal that GOD is going ahead of you to smash the Philistine camp."H8085H6963H6807H7218H1057H2782H3068H3318H6440H5221H4264H643025David did exactly what GOD told him. He routed the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.H1732H6213H3068H6680H5221H6430H1387H935H1507