2 Samuel 5:17-25
Good News Translation
Victory over the Philistines(A)
17 The Philistines were told that David had been made king of Israel, so their army set out to capture him. When David heard of it, he went down to a fortified place. 18 The Philistines arrived at Rephaim Valley and occupied it. 19 David asked the Lord, “Shall I attack the Philistines? Will you give me the victory?”
“Yes, attack!” the Lord answered. “I will give you the victory!”
20 So David went to Baal Perazim and there he defeated the Philistines. He said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies like a flood.” And so that place is called Baal Perazim.[a] 21 When the Philistines fled, they left their idols behind, and David and his men carried them away.
22 Then the Philistines went back to Rephaim Valley and occupied it again. 23 Once more David consulted the Lord, who answered, “Don't attack them from here, but go around and get ready to attack them from the other side, near the balsam trees. 24 When you hear the sound of marching in the treetops, then attack because I will be marching ahead of you to defeat the Philistine army.” 25 David did what the Lord had commanded, and was able to drive the Philistines back from Geba all the way to Gezer.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 5:20 This name in Hebrew means “Lord of the Breakthrough.”
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.