2 Samuel 5:17-25

English Standard Version

David Defeats the Philistines

¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down ^(A)to the stronghold. ¹⁸ Now the Philistines had come and spread out in ^(B)the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁹ And David ^(C)inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” ²⁰ And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” ^(D)Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.^{[a] 21} And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.

²² And the Philistines came up yet again ^(E)and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. ^23 (F)And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. ²⁴ And ^(G)when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, ^(H)for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” ²⁵ And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba ^(I)to Gezer.