9. David lived in the fort and called it “The City of David.” David built up the city from the Millo inward.
10. He became stronger and stronger because the Lord All-Powerful was with him.
11. King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David. He also sent cedar trees, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a house for David.
12. Then David knew that the Lord had really made him king of Israel and had made him ruler over his kingdom for the good of his people, Israel.
13. David moved from Hebron to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, he got more slave women and wives. So David had more children who were born in Jerusalem.
14. David’s sons who were born in Jerusalem are Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
15. Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
16. Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17. When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had anointed David to be the king of Israel, all the Philistines went up to kill him. David heard about this and went down into the fort at Jerusalem.
18. The Philistines came and camped in Rephaim Valley.
19. David asked the Lord, saying, “Should I go up to fight against the Philistines? Will you help me defeat them?” The Lord answered, “Yes, I certainly will help you defeat the Philistines.”
20. Then David went to Baal Perazim and defeated the Philistines in that place. He said, “The Lord broke through my enemies like water breaking through a dam.” That is why David named that place “Baal Perazim.”
21. The Philistines left the statues of their gods behind at Baal Perazim. David and his men took them away.
22. Again the Philistines came up and camped in Rephaim Valley.
23. David prayed to the Lord again and got this answer: “Don’t go up the valley. Go around them to the other side of their army. Attack them from the other side of the balsam trees.
24. When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, you must act quickly because that is the sign that the Lord has gone out in front of you to defeat the Philistines.”
25. David did what the Lord commanded him to do, and he defeated the Philistines. He chased them from Geba to Gezer, killing them all along the way.