Then David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus), where the Jebusites inhabited the land. The people of Jebus said to David, "You will never get in here." Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). Now David had said, "Whoever is the first to strike down a Jebusite will become chief commander." And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became the chief. So David took up residence in the fortress; that is why it was called the City of David. He built up the city around it, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city. And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of Hosts was with him.
Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: "You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you." For they thought, "David cannot get in here." Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). On that day he said, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites must use the water shaft to reach the lame and blind who are despised by David." That is why it is said, "The blind and the lame will never enter the palace." So David took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built it up all the way around, from the supporting terraces inward. And David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of Hosts was with him.
Significance
These parallel accounts of Jerusalem's capture diverge in notable details. 2 Samuel 5:6-8 preserves the Jebusites' boast about "the blind and the lame" and David's response involving the water shaft (צִנּוֹר, tsinnor), while 1 Chronicles 11:4-6 replaces this with Joab's initiative in leading the assault, earning him the position of army commander. Both texts conclude with the same assessment: David "became greater and greater, for the LORD God of Hosts was with him" (2 Sam 5:10) / "the LORD of Hosts was with him" (1 Chr 11:9). The Chronicler's version adds David's building of the city "from the supporting terraces to the surrounding wall" (1 Chr 11:8) while omitting the enigmatic reference to the blind and lame. These differences show each author selecting details for different narrative purposes — Samuel emphasizing David's personal daring, Chronicles emphasizing his administrative organization.
Found via
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Reference Type
Direct Quotation
Connection Method(s)
Redemptive-Historical Progression — parallel retelling of Jerusalem's capture in which the Chronicler re-selects details (Joab's initiative earning the command) while keeping the source's climax that David grew great because "the LORD of Hosts was with him" (1 Chr 11:9); Samuel's account is advanced into Chronicles' larger movement from city-taking to temple-founding.
