After the murder of Abner and Ishbosheth, the elders of the northern tribes accepted David as their king. David thus obtained an extended empire (5:1–5), a new capital city (5:6–10), a new palace (5:11), a new family (5:13–16), and renewed confidence (5:17–25).
1Then all the tribes of Israel came to Davidat Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. 2Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”
3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointedhim king over Israel.
4David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israeland Judah.
ⓘDavid acquired a new capital city, Jerusalem, for...
David acquired a new capital city, Jerusalem, for the newly extended kingdom.
6Now 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.”
7Nevertheless, David captured the fortress ofZion (that is, the City of David). 8On that day he said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusitesmust 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.”
9So 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. 10And David became greater and greater, for the LORDGodof Hosts was with him.
11Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palacefor David.
12And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
ⓘThe expansion of David’s family reflected his growing...
The expansion of David’s family reflected his growing success and power as Israel’s king. Solomon was David’s most important Jerusalem-born son (see 12:24–25).
13After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua,†Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
For the first time as king, David engaged the Philistines in battle.
David’s life has been portrayed thus far in 2 Samuel with a repeated pattern: He was crowned king in Hebron (2:4), won a battle (2:12–17), became stronger (3:1), and started a large family (3:2–5). Now he was crowned in Jerusalem (5:3), became stronger (5:10), expanded his family (5:13–14), and won a battle (5:17–25). This parallel structure draws attention to both of David’s coronations with signs of divine blessing and prosperity.
17When the Philistines heard that Davidhad been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.
18Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go up,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
20So David went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.” So he called that place Baal-perazim.†21There the Philistines abandoned their idols, and David and his men carried them away.
22Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.†24As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
25So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistinesall the way fromGibeon†to Gezer.
Commentary
2 Samuel 5:1
your own flesh and blood: Years of civil war had set brother against brother, resulting in much bloodshed (see 3:1).
Commentary
2 Samuel 5:2
you were the one: In the ancient world, a covenant relationship (a suzerain-vassal treaty) was sometimes formed between subjects (the vassals) and a ruler (the suzerain) because of past aid, often rescue from enemies (see Judg 8:22, Gideon; Judg 11:8–11, Jephthah; 1 Sam 11:1–15, Saul). This type of relationship is the background for the covenant concept in Scripture: God was Israel’s covenant Lord because he had freed them from Egypt (cp. Exod 19:4; 20:1–2).
the Lord told you: Israel was already aware of God’s selection of David (cp. 2 Sam 3:9).
shepherd of my people Israel: This phrase is quoted in Matt 2:6 when King Herod asks the leading priests about the prophecies concerning the Messiah.
Commentary
2 Samuel 5:3
King David made a covenant that demanded the people’s loyalty, yet allowed them to maintain a sense of tribal privilege and individual dignity. It served as a constitution, containing stipulations obligating both the king and the people.
they anointed him king: While David had already been anointed by Samuel (1 Sam 16:13), this public ceremony demonstrated the people’s acceptance of David as king.
The Jebusites resided in Jerusalem prior to its conquest by David (see Exod 34:11; Deut 7:1–6; 20:17; Josh 15:63; Judg 1:21). Nothing is known of them outside the Bible. In archaeological discoveries from Mari in Syria, a similar name (Yabasi) appears as both a clan name and a geographic location.
Even the blind and lame: The Jebusites had a false notion of invincibility. Another possible translation is you won’t enter here unless you can get rid of the blind and lame, implying that David’s capture of Jerusalem was as likely as achieving a miraculous cure for blindness and lameness.
the fortress of Zion: At this time Jerusalem was probably a small site of nine to twelve square acres. The Jebusites’ arrogance, and the fact that the city had not been conquered previously, suggests that it was well fortified.
How David conquered Jerusalem is debated. Possibly he used a water tunnel as a conduit for his troops to enter the city, but not all interpreters agree. Another possibility is that David and his men conquered Jerusalem with the more traditional siege works and by scaling the walls. The term translated water tunnel occurs only here and in Ps 42:7 (“raging seas”); the statement might be metaphorical, referring to the ferocity of the attack.
The blind and the lame may not enter the house: House could refer either to the Temple, which had not yet been built, or to David’s palace. The proverb may explain why Mephibosheth, Saul’s descendant, was barred from the throne (see study note on 2 Sam 4:4).
David also promised that those who undertook the siege of Jerusalem would become the commanders of his army (see 1 Chr 11:6).
made the fortress his home: Jerusalem was a practical place from which David could effectively administer the extended kingdom. It was a centrally located neutral city on the border between Judah and the northern territories, and its natural fortifications and water tunnel were useful in case of siege.
Hiram of Tyre: Although the meeting of these two neighboring kings is reported just after Jerusalem’s conquest, it probably happened much later. Hiram remained on the throne in Tyre at least until Solomon’s twenty-fourth year, and one ancient source notes that he had a reign of thirty-four years. Another tradition implies that Hiram became king of Tyre just eight years before Solomon became king of Israel. The same king performed a similar act for Solomon (1 Kgs 5:1–18). The report of Hiram’s support is perhaps given here because it ties in with the theme of David’s confirmation and establishment as Israel’s king (2 Sam 5:12).
Commentary
2 Samuel 5:12
David realized that his reign as king over Israel was for the sake of God’s people Israel, not just for his personal benefit or enrichment.
Commentary
2 Samuel 5:18
The valley of Rephaim is located between Bethlehem and Jerusalem (cp. 23:13–14).
Commentary
2 Samuel 5:20
Baal-perazim: David used the term Baal to honor the Lord for the victory he gave Israel. The title means “the lord of earthquakes/openings,” and was evidently an acceptable title for Yahweh until the Canaanite worship of Baal became an overwhelming problem in Israel. Every time David engaged in combat with the Philistines in 2 Samuel (5:17–25; 8:1; 21:15–22; 23:13–17), he won without losing a single soldier. How different from Saul, for whom victory over the Philistines was impossible!
Commentary
2 Samuel 5:21
David . . . confiscated them: David’s confiscation of the Philistines’ idols was payback for their capture of the Ark during Eli’s time (1 Sam 4:1b-11). David burned the idols rather than carrying them off as trophies (1 Chr 14:12).
David again asked the Lord (5:19), but this time God gave a much more detailed answer. Unlike the frontal assault of 5:20, God instructed David to circle around behind the enemy.
Commentary
2 Samuel 5:25
Gibeon: David cleared the Philistines from the central hill country of Israel between Gibeon in the east (in Benjamin, north of Jerusalem) to Gezer in the west.
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