1. Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron, saying: “Behold, we are your own flesh and blood.
2. In the past, even when Saul was king, you were the one that led out and brought in Israel. Adonai your God also said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel and you shall be ruler over My people Israel.’”
3. When all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Adonai. They anointed David king over Israel, in keeping with the word of Adonai by the hand of Samuel.
4. Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem—that is Jebus, where the Jebusite inhabitants of the land lived.
5. Now the residents of Jebus said to David, “You cannot get in here!” Nevertheless David captured the stronghold of Zion, which is now the city of David.
6. David had said, “Whoever strikes down the Jebusites first will be commander-in-chief.” So Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became commander.
7. David lived in the stronghold; for this reason it is called the city of David.
8. He fortified the city all around, from the Millo to the surrounding walls, and Joab repaired the rest of the city.
9. David grew more and more powerful because Adonai-Tzva’ot was with him.
10. Now these were chiefs of David’s mighty men, who strongly supported him in his kingdom, together with all Israel to make him king, according to the word of Adonai, over Israel.