2Sa 5:17-25 | NASB2020 | STEP | Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel , all the Philistines went up to seek out David ; and when David heard about it, he went down to the stronghold .

2 Samuel 5:17-25

War with the Philistines

17 Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, ^aall the Philistines went up to seek out David; and when David heard about it, he went down to the ^bstronghold. 18 Now the Philistines came and overran ^cthe Valley of Rephaim. 19 So ^dDavid inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You hand them over to me?” And ^ethe Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly hand the Philistines over to you.” 20 Then David came to ^fBaal-perazim and ^{▼▼Lit David struck}defeated them there; and he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore he named that place ^{▼▼I.e., the master of breakthroughs}Baal-perazim. 21 And the Philistines abandoned their idols there, so ⁱDavid and his men carried them away.

22 Now ^jthe Philistines came up once again and overran the Valley of Rephaim. 23 So ^kDavid inquired of the Lord, but He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the baka-shrubs. 24 And it shall be, when ^lyou hear the sound of marching in the tops of the baka-shrubs, then you shall ^{▼▼Or pay attention}act promptly, for then ⁿthe Lord will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” 25 Then David did so, just as the Lord had commanded him; he struck and killed the Philistines from ^{▼▼In 1 Chr 14:16, Gibeon
,} ^pGeba ^{▼▼Lit until you come to}as far as ^rGezer.