2 Samuel 5:22-25 - Compare All Versions
2 Samuel 5:22-25 NIV (New International Version)
Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” So David did as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
2 Samuel 5:22-25 ESV (English Standard Version 2025)
And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 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. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” And David did as the LORD commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.
2 Samuel 5:22-25 NLT (New Living Translation)
But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. And again David asked the LORD what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the LORD replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the LORD is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” So David did what the LORD commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
2 Samuel 5:22-25 CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
The Philistines came up again and spread out in Rephaim Valley. So David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, “Do not attack directly, but circle around behind them and come at them opposite the balsam trees. When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, act decisively, for then the LORD will have gone out ahead of you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” So David did exactly as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.
2 Samuel 5:22-25 KJV (King James Version)
And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.
2 Samuel 5:22-25 NKJV (New King James Version)
Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.
2 Samuel 5:22-25 MSG (The Message)
Later there was a repeat performance. The Philistines came up again and deployed their troops in the Rephaim Valley. David again prayed to GOD. This time GOD said, “Don’t attack them head-on. Instead, circle around behind them and ambush them from the grove of sacred trees. When you hear the sound of shuffling in the trees, get ready to move out. It’s a signal that GOD is going ahead of you to smash the Philistine camp.” David did exactly what GOD told him. He routed the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
2 Samuel 5:22-25 NASB2020 (New American Standard Bible - NASB)
Now the Philistines came up once again and overran the Valley of Rephaim. So David 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. And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the baka-shrubs, then you shall act promptly, for then the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” Then David did so, just as the LORD had commanded him; he struck and killed the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.
2 Samuel 5:22-25 AMP (Amplified Bible)
The Philistines came up once again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. When David inquired of the LORD, He said, “You shall not go up, but circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall pay attention and act promptly, for at that time the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” David did just as the LORD had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.
2 Samuel 5:22-25 NET (New English Translation)
The Philistines again came up and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. So David asked the LORD what he should do. This time the LORD said to him, “Don’t march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees. When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at that moment the LORD is going before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” David did just as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.