Benjamin’s Failure

²¹ At the same time the Benjaminites did not drive out the Jebusites who were living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites have lived among the Benjaminites in Jerusalem to this day.^(A)

⁵ In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

⁶ The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites^(A) who inhabited the land. The Jebusites had said to David, ‘You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you’ thinking, ‘David can’t get in here.’

⁷ Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.^{(B) 8} He said that day, ‘Whoever attacks the Jebusites must go through the water shaft to reach the lame and the blind who are despised by David.’^[a] For this reason it is said, ‘The blind and the lame will never enter the house.’^[b]

⁹ David took up residence in the stronghold, which he named the city of David. He built it up all the way round from the supporting terraces inward.