4 David H1732 was thirty H7970 years H8141 old H1121 when he began to reign, H4427 and he reigned H4427 forty H705 years. H8141
5 In Hebron H2275 he reigned H4427 over Judah H3063 seven H7651 years H8141 and six H8337 months: H2320 and in Jerusalem H3389 he reigned H4427 thirty H7970 and three H7969 years H8141 over all Israel H3478 and Judah. H3063
6 And the king H4428 and his men H582 went H3212 to Jerusalem H3389 unto the Jebusites, H2983 the inhabitants H3427 of the land: H776 which spake H559 unto David, H1732 saying, H559 Except thou take away H5493 the blind H5787 and the lame, H6455 thou shalt not come in H935 hither: thinking, H559 David H1732 cannot come in H935 hither.
7 Nevertheless David H1732 took H3920 the strong hold H4686 of Zion: H6726 the same is the city H5892 of David. H1732
8 And David H1732 said H559 on that day, H3117 Whosoever getteth up H5060 to the gutter, H6794 and smiteth H5221 the Jebusites, H2983 and the lame H6455 and the blind, H5787 that are hated H8130 of David's H1732 soul, H5315 he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, H559 The blind H5787 and the lame H6455 shall not come H935 into the house. H1004
9 So David H1732 dwelt H3427 in the fort, H4686 and called H7121 it the city H5892 of David. H1732 And David H1732 built H1129 round about H5439 from Millo H4407 and inward. H1004
10 And David H1732 went H3212 on, H1980 and grew great, H1419 and the LORD H3068 God H430 of hosts H6635 was with him.
11 And Hiram H2438 king H4428 of Tyre H6865 sent H7971 messengers H4397 to David, H1732 and cedar H730 trees, H6086 and carpenters, H2796 and masons: H7023 H68 and they built H1129 David H1732 an house. H1004
12 And David H1732 perceived H3045 that the LORD H3068 had established H3559 him king H4428 over Israel, H3478 and that he had exalted H5375 his kingdom H4467 for his people H5971 Israel's H3478 sake.
13 And David H1732 took H3947 him more concubines H6370 and wives H802 out of Jerusalem, H3389 after H310 he was come H935 from Hebron: H2275 and there were yet sons H1121 and daughters H1323 born H3205 to David. H1732
14 And these be the names H8034 of those that were born H3209 unto him in Jerusalem; H3389 Shammua, H8051 and Shobab, H7727 and Nathan, H5416 and Solomon, H8010
15 Ibhar H2984 also, and Elishua, H474 and Nepheg, H5298 and Japhia, H3309
16 And Elishama, H476 and Eliada, H450 and Eliphalet. H467
17 But when the Philistines H6430 heard H8085 that they had anointed H4886 David H1732 king H4428 over Israel, H3478 all the Philistines H6430 came up H5927 to seek H1245 David; H1732 and David H1732 heard H8085 of it, and went down H3381 to the hold. H4686
18 The Philistines H6430 also came H935 and spread H5203 themselves in the valley H6010 of Rephaim. H7497
19 And David H1732 enquired H7592 of the LORD, H3068 saying, H559 Shall I go up H5927 to the Philistines? H6430 wilt thou deliver H5414 them into mine hand? H3027 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto David, H1732 Go up: H5927 for I will doubtless H5414 deliver H5414 the Philistines H6430 into thine hand. H3027
20 And David H1732 came H935 to Baalperazim, H1188 and David H1732 smote H5221 them there, and said, H559 The LORD H3068 hath broken forth H6555 upon mine enemies H341 before H6440 me, as the breach H6556 of waters. H4325 Therefore he called H7121 the name H8034 of that place H4725 Baalperazim. H1188
21 And there they left H5800 their images, H6091 and David H1732 and his men H582 burned H5375 them.
22 And the Philistines H6430 came up H5927 yet again, H3254 and spread H5203 themselves in the valley H6010 of Rephaim. H7497
23 And when David H1732 enquired H7592 of the LORD, H3068 he said, H559 Thou shalt not go up; H5927 but fetch a compass H5437 behind H310 them, and come H935 upon them over against H4136 the mulberry trees. H1057
24 And let it be, when thou hearest H8085 the sound H6963 of a going H6807 in the tops H7218 of the mulberry trees, H1057 that then thou shalt bestir H2782 thyself: for then shall the LORD H3068 go out H3318 before H6440 thee, to smite H5221 the host H4264 of the Philistines. H6430
25 And David H1732 did so, H6213 as the LORD H3068 had commanded H6680 him; and smote H5221 the Philistines H6430 from Geba H1387 until thou come H935 to Gazer. H1507
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Samuel 5
Commentary on 2 Samuel 5 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 5
2Sa 5:1-5. The Tribes Anoint David King over Israel.
1, 2. Then came all the tribes of Israel—a combined deputation of the leading authorities in every tribe. [See on 1Ch 11:1.] David possessed the first and indispensable qualification for the throne; namely, that of being an Israelite (De 17:15). Of his military talent he had furnished ample proof. And the people's desire for his assumption of the government of Israel was further increased by their knowledge of the will and purpose of God, as declared by Samuel (1Sa 16:11-13).
3. King David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord—(see on 1Sa 10:17). This formal declaration of the constitution was chiefly made at the commencement of a new dynasty, or at the restoration of the royal family after a usurpation (2Ki 11:17), though circumstances sometimes led to its being renewed on the accession of any new sovereign (1Ki 12:4). It seems to have been accompanied by religious solemnities.
2Sa 5:6-12. He Takes Zion from the Jebusites.
6. the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites—The first expedition of David, as king of the whole country, was directed against this place, which had hitherto remained in the hands of the natives. It was strongly fortified and deemed so impregnable that the blind and lame were sent to man the battlements, in derisive mockery of the Hebrew king's attack, and to shout, "David cannot come in hither." To understand the full meaning and force of this insulting taunt, it is necessary to bear in mind the depth and steepness of the valley of Gihon, and the lofty walls of the ancient Canaanitish fortress.
7. the stronghold of Zion—Whether Zion be the southwestern hill commonly so-called, or the peak now level on the north of the temple mount, it is the towering height which catches the eye from every quarter—"the hill fort," "the rocky hold" of Jerusalem.
8. Whosoever getteth up to the gutter—This is thought by some to mean a subterranean passage; by others a spout through which water was poured upon the fire which the besiegers often applied to the woodwork at the gateways, and by the projections of which a skilful climber might make his ascent good; a third class render the words, "whosoever dasheth them against the precipice" (1Ch 11:6).
9. David dwelt in the fort, &c.—Having taken it by storm, he changed its name to "the city of David," to signify the importance of the conquest, and to perpetuate the memory of the event.
David built round about from Millo and inward—probably a row of stone bastions placed on the northern side of Mount Zion, and built by David to secure himself on that side from the Jebusites, who still lived in the lower part of the city. The house of Millo was perhaps the principal corner tower of that fortified wall.
11, 12. Hiram … sent carpenters, and masons—The influx of Tyrian architects and mechanics affords a clear evidence of the low state to which, through the disorders of long-continued war, the better class of artisans had declined in Israel.
2Sa 5:13-16. Eleven Sons Born to Him.
13. David took him more concubines and wives—In this conduct David transgressed an express law, which forbade the king of Israel to multiply wives unto himself (De 17:17).
2Sa 5:17-25. He Smites the Philistines.
17. when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel—During the civil war between the house of Saul and David, those restless neighbors had remained quiet spectators of the contest. But now, jealous of David, they resolved to attack him before his government was fully established.
18. valley of Rephaim—that is, "of giants," a broad and fertile plain, which descends gradually from the central mountains towards the northwest. It was the route by which they marched against Jerusalem. The "hold" to which David went down "was some fortified place where he might oppose the progress of the invaders," and where he signally defeated them.
21. there they left their images—probably their "lares" or household deities, which they had brought into the field to fight for them. They were burnt as ordained by law (De 7:5).
22. the Philistines came up yet again—The next year they renewed their hostile attempt with a larger force, but God manifestly interposed in David's favor.
24. the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees—now generally thought not to be mulberry trees, but some other tree, most probably the poplar, which delights in moist situations, and the leaves of which are rustled by the slightest movement of the air [Royle].