II SAMUEL 5 COMME�TARYWritten and edited by Glenn Pease

PREFACEThis commentary is designed to give Bible students the thinking and wisdom of

many other authors all in one place to save the time of research. It is far from

perfect, for I quote from sources that have many imperfections, but the content is

clear and valuable. Sometimes I do not know the author, and anyone who does

know the author can write me, and I will give credit where it is deserved. Some I

quote may, for some good reason, desire that their wisdom not be made available in

this way. They also can write and have me delete their quotes. My e-mail is

glenn_p86@yahoo.com

David Becomes King Over Israel

1. All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and

said, "We are your own flesh and blood.

1. All the tribes sent their representatives to king David with a united voice that

proclaimed they were one with him. We are family, and we come to declare that the

family fight is over.

2. Pink, “It is precious to see that these words of all the tribes of Israel, "we are thy

bone and thy flesh," were used by them as a plea. They had long ignored his rights

and resisted his claims. They had been in open revolt against him, and deserved

nought but judgment at his hands. But now they humbled themselves before him,

and pleaded their near relation to him as a reason why he should forgive their ill-

usage of him. They were his brethren, and on that ground they sought his clemency.

3. Gill, “we [are] thy bone and thy flesh; for though he was of the tribe of Judah, yet

as all the tribes sprung from one man, they were all one bone, flesh, and blood; all

nearly related to each other, all of the same general family of which David was; and

so, according to their law, a fit person to be their king, (Deuteronomy 16:18-17:13) ;

and from whom they might expect clemency and tenderness, being so near akin to

them.”

2. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the

one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the

LORD said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel,

and you will become their ruler.' "

1. We thought this was a secret, but the leaders of Israel knew it all along, even

when they joined Saul in trying to capture and kill David. They obviously lived in

fear of Saul, or they would not have gone along with his insane desire to rid the

world of David. Here were people who knew the plan and will of God for David to

be the next king, and yet they fought and resisted that will. We all tend to operate in

ignorance, for we do not know whom God may desire to be the leader of our land.

We vote based on party allegiance, or personal preferences, but we do not have any

knowledge about God's selection. These people had such knowledge and still voted

for the wrong man. This is why it took so long for David to get to the throne. It was

human weakness, and resistance to the will of God.

1B. Paul Apple, “From the time that David had killed Goliath – led them even when

Saul was on the throne; God used David mightily; “Saul has slain his thousands, and

David his ten thousands” 1 Sam. 18:7 -- people looked to David for defense and

victory over the Philistines; 1 Sam. 18:14 “David was prospering in all his ways for

the Lord was with him” --people came to him for justice even when in exile -- 1 Sam.

22:1-2; being an elder does not come from having an official title slapped on you …

but from faithfully doing the work of the ministry.”

1C. These leaders of Israel knew all along that David was anointed to be their king,

and yet they resisted and refused to let him be king. Instead they followed Abner,

and then Ish-bosheth. This foolish delay led to years of civil war and not only wasted

time, but wasted lives. Alan Carr his put together this list of the waste. The parallel,

of course, is the folly of people who know that Jesus is Savior and Lord, but who put

off submitting to him, and waste years, and resources that could be used for the

glory of God. Life is filled with tragic waste because people delay in doing what they

know is the will of God. Here is Alan's comments:

A Time Of Tragic Waste – In any war there are casualties. A quick look at 2

Samuel 2-4 reveals that the casualties in this war were severe. Let me list a few of

them.

1. 2:16-17 – Many men died in the first conflict of this war

2. 2:18-29, 32 – A young soldier named Asahel was slain by a seasoned

warrior named Abner.

3. 2:30-31 – 20 of David’s men are dead and 360 of Abner’s men die.

4. 3:27-29 – Abner is murdered by Joab

5. 4:1-12 – Ishbosheth is beheaded while he sleeps by two assassins, and they

are executed by David when they take the head of Ishbosheth to David.

Sadly, none of this ever had to be! If Israel had only bowed to the will of

the Lord and accepted David as their King, they could have been all that

grief and bloodshed. Their partial submission cost them plenty!

2. Pink, " “This too is very blessed when we look through the type to the antitype.

These humbled revolters now praised David for his former services, which before

they had overlooked; and now acknowledged the Lord’s appointment of him, which

before they had resisted. So it is in the experience of the converted. While in the

service of Saul (Satan) we have no appreciation of the work Christ has done and no

apprehension of the position of honor to which God has elevated Him: the depths of

humiliation into which the Beloved of the Father entered and the unspeakable

suffering which He endured on behalf of His people, melted not our hearts; nor did

the scepter which He now wields bring us into loving subjection to Him. But

conversion alters all this!

But more: "the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed My people Israel, and thou shalt be a

captain over Israel." They not only praised David for his former services, but recognizing

him as the divinely appointed shepherd of Israel they determined to put themselves

under his protection, desiring that he would rule over them in tenderness and

righteousness, for their safety and comfort, and that he would lead them forth to

victory over his enemies. This too finds its counterpart in the history of those who

are truly converted: they realize they have many foes, both within and without,

which are far too powerful for them to conquer, and therefore do they "commit the

keeping of their souls to Him" (1 Pet. 4: 19), assured that "He is able to keep . . .

against that Day" (2 Tim. 1:12). Yes, He who is bone of our bone and flesh of our

flesh is "mighty to save," "able to save unto the uttermost them that come unto God

by Him" (Heb. 7:25).

3. Deffinbaugh, "The Israelites recognize David's leadership over them in the past,

even while Saul was their king. When the people demand a king, they want a king

who will “go out before them to fight their battles” (see 1 Samuel 8:19-20).

Fundamentally, Saul defaults on his responsibility to lead Israel in battle, and it is

David who does what they have sought in a king. It was not Saul who went up

against Goliath, but David. It was not Saul who led Israel in battle, but David (at

least a one of their commanders). The Israelite elders recognize David's leadership

in doing what a king is supposed to do. In effect, the elders of Israel are

acknowledging that even when Saul was their king, David acted more like a king

than he did. They are not choosing to follow an unknown commodity (as they do

with Saul), but a man who has proven himself to be “a mighty man of valor, a

warrior” (see 1 Samuel 16:18).

The elders of Israel submit themselves to the Word of God as they recognize David

as God's choice for the next king of Israel. David has been publicly anointed as

Israel's next king (1 Samuel 16:1-13). Saul knows that David is to be Israel's next

king (1 Samuel 24:20), as do Abigail (1 Samuel 25:30), as do the Philistines (1

Samuel 21:11). All Israel has to know that David is the one God has designed to be

king in Saul's place (2 Samuel 3:9-10, 18). The Israelites are not surprised to learn

that David is Israel's next king; although they are a little slow to act on this

revelation. When the elders of Israel come to David, it is in obedience to the revealed

will of God. This is far better than their previous rebellion against God by

demanding a king in 1 Samuel 8."

4. “4. “4. “4. “The house of Saul is now defunct and David is finally King of a united Israel. We

are ready for the next stage of this history. What is more, David has behaved

righteously throughout the period of civil war. If God has used sin sinlessly to put

David on the throne - the murder of Abner and the assassination of Ish-Bosheth - he

has protected David from any involvement in the sins of those around him and

David is able to demonstrate his innocence in a way that seems to have convinced

the generality of Israel that David had nothing to do with Saul's death or the death

of his commander, Abner, or his remaining son, Ish-Bosheth. David's magnanimity

to Saul's household will be further demonstrated later in his kindness to Jonathan's

son, Mephibosheth, but it has been displayed impressively in these early chapters of

2 Samuel. In other words he is being displayed as a man who loves justice and will

act to enforce it, who trusts the Lord and will not seek by sinful means to advance

the interests of his house or the nation. In this, of course, he is an image of Jesus

Christ, who would proceed in his ministry by the way of righteousness and never

make use of sinful means to advance his work.” unknown author

3. When all the elders of Israel had come to King David

at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at

Hebron before the LORD , and they anointed David

king over Israel.

1. David Chadwell summarizes this chapter, "The context of this situation should be

seen as David's determination to continue to unite Israel as a single kingdom. In 2

Samuel 5 we learn numerous things. (1) David was made King over all Israel. He

was requested to lead the Hebrews as a shepherd, not as a dictator. (2) David made

Jerusalem the new capitol of the nation. Jerusalem was not under Israel's control or

Judah's control--it previously belonged to the Jebusites. Thus it is a "neutral" city

that favored neither side as far as past history was concerned. (3) David made

Jerusalem his royal city by having his palace built there. He settled in his new home,

married additional wives and added concubines, had eleven sons who were born in

Jerusalem (the author named them and acknowledged that daughters were also

born to David at that time), (4) and the Philistines were decisively defeated."

1B. Constable, "In 1004 B.C. David became king of all Israel and Judah. This was

his third anointing (cf. 1 Sam. 16:13; 2 Sam. 2:4). The people acknowledged David's

previous military leadership of all Israel as well as God's choice of him to shepherd

His people as their king. "In the ancient East, shepherd at an early date became a

title of honor applied to divinities and rulers alike." This is the first time the Bible

refers to a specific human ruler as a shepherd, though as an analogy the term

appears earlier (�um. 27:17) and with reference to God (Gen. 48:15; 49:24). The

�ew Testament refers to David's greatest son, Jesus Christ, as the "Good

Shepherd" (John 10:11, 14), the "Great Shepherd" (Heb. 13:20), and the "Chief

Shepherd" (1 Pet. 5:4). The fact that Samuel had anointed David when he was a

youth was evidently now common knowledge in Israel. Therefore we should regard

previous resistances to his assuming the throne after Saul's death as rebellions

against the known will of God. The covenant (v. 3) was an agreement between the

people and the king before God. Probably it included a fresh commitment to the

Mosaic Covenant."

1C. Gill, “...he entered into a covenant with them; he on his part promising to rule

them in justice and judgment according to the laws, and they promising to yield a

cheerful obedience to him in all things just and lawful: and this was done "before

the Lord"; either before the ark of the Lord, as Abarbinel; but that was in

Kirjathjearim, from whence it was after this brought by David to this city; rather,

as Kimchi observes, wherever all Israel, or the greater part of them, were

assembled, there the divine Shechinah or Majesty dwelt; so that what was done in a

public assembly was reckoned as done before the Lord, and in his presence; or this

covenant was made before the Lord, and each party appealed to him as witness of it,

so that it was a very solemn one.”

2. Brian Morgan, “The nation's understanding of the office of king had grown

considerably since the days of their naive euphoria at Saul's coronation. Then they

said, "Give us a king like all the other nations," and Saul was given a blank check.

�ow, after decades of suffering under a self- serving despot, and numerous

examples of betrayal in high places, David's kingship is endorsed only in the form of

a covenant of mutual acceptance. "Shepherd" becomes the defining term of office.

The shepherd lives for the well being of the flock, not the other way around. He is

responsible to feed, nurture and care for them. And the best shepherds will even die

for their flock (compare Ezekiel 34 and John 10). The second term, "ruler" (nagid)

speaks of the king providing military protection for the flock (Fokkelman), and

makes room for the kingship of the Lord, to whom the king is ultimately subject.

So here is David's third anointing. It is the culmination of a long journey which he

began as a boy shepherding sheep. �ow he becomes the shepherd of an entire

nation. But it is equally the story of a nation who, through the pain of wrong

choices, has come to learn what the work of a true king is all about. The concept of

dictator is transformed to shepherd. And it is God's story. In his sovereignty, God

brings both people and king together at the proper time, to be wed in a covenant of

loyal-love. The shepherd and his people are finally one.”

3. Maclaren,“So David has reached the throne at last. Schooled by suffering, and in

the full maturity of his powers, enriched by the singularly varied experiences of his

changeful life, tempered by the swift alternations of heat and cold, polished by

friction, consolidated by heavy blows, he has been welded into a fitting instrument

for God’s purposes. Thus does He ever prepare for larger service. Thus does He

ever reward patient trust. Through trials to a throne is the law for all noble lives in

regard to their earthly progress, as well as in regard to the relation between earth

and heaven. But David is not only a pattern instance of how God trains His servants,

but he is a prophetic person; and in his progress to his kingdom we have dimly, but

really, shadowed the path by which his Son and Lord attains to His,—a path thickly

strewn with thorns, and plunging into ‘valleys of the shadow of death’ compared

with which David’s darkest hour was sunny. The psalms of the persecuted exile

have sounding through them a deeper sorrow; for they ‘testified beforehand the

sufferings of Christ.’ ‘�o cross, no crown,’ is the lesson of David’s earlier life.”

4. Pink, " 1 Chronicles 12:23-40 supplies fuller light upon the opening verses of 2

Samuel 5. There we are shown not only the numbers which came unto David from

each tribe, and with what zeal and sincerity they came, but also the gracious

reception they met with. The one whom they had so grievously wronged did not

refuse to accept them, but instead gave them a hearty and royal welcome: "And

there they were with David three days (typically, now on resurrection ground),

eating and drinking" (v. 39)—at perfect ease in his presence; "for there was joy in

Israel" (v. 40)."

3. Pink has lengthy comments on this passage. We cannot quote all, but will give

what we feel is the most important insights. "The son of Saul, though feeble and

unknown, was preferred to David; and David left the wilderness, only to be engaged

in a long and destructive struggle with those who should have welcomed him as the

gift of God for their blessing. So slowly does the hand of God effectuate its purposes

—so resolute are men in refusing to recognize any thing save that which gratifies the

tendencies of their nature, or approves itself to the calculation of their self-interest.

For seven years and six months, Abner and all the tribes of Israel fiercely assailed

David: and yet afterwards, they were not ashamed to confess, that they knew that

David was he whom God had destined to be the deliverer of Israel. They knew this,

and yet for seven years they sought to destroy him; and no doubt, all the while,

spoke of themselves, and were spoken of by others, as conscientious men fulfilling an

apprehended duty in adhering to the house of Saul. So easy is it to speak well of evil,

and to encourage iniquity by smooth words of falsehood.

"At last, however, God accomplished the long cherished desire of His servant’s

heart—the desire that He had Himself implanted—and David became the head and

governor of Israel" (B. W. �ewton). Yes, at last the hearts of these rebels were

subdued; at last they were willing to submit themselves unto David’s scepter. Ah,

note well the particular character in which David was owned by them: "thou shalt be

a captain over Israel." As we have pointed out in the introductory paragraphs, the

surrender of the men of the eleven tribes unto David, was a type of the sinner’s

conversion. This presents to us a vital and fundamental aspect of salvation which

has wellnigh disappeared from modern "evangelism." What is conversion? True

and saving conversion, we mean. It is far, far more than a believing that Jesus

Christ is the incarnate Son of God, and that He made an atonement for our sins.

Thousands believe that who are yet dead in trespasses and sins!

Conversion consists not in believing certain facts or truths made known in Holy

Writ, but lies in the complete surrender of the heart and life to a divine Person. It

consists in a throwing down of the weapons of our rebellion against Him. It is the

total disowning of allegiance to the old master—Satan, sin, self, and a declaring "we

will have this Man to reign over us" (Luke 19:14). It is owning the claims of Christ

and bowing to His rights of absolute dominion over us. It is taking His yoke upon us,

submitting unto His scepter, yielding to His blessed will. In a word, it is "receiving

Christ Jesus the Lord" (Col 2:6), giving Him the throne of our hearts, turning over

to Him the control and regulation of our lives. And, my reader, nothing short of this

is a Scriptural conversion: anything else is make-believe, a lying substitute, a fatal

deception.

In the passage now before us, these Israelites, who had for so long resisted the

claims of David, serving under the banner of his adversary instead, now desired the

king of Judah to be their king. It is evident that a great change had been wrought in

them—wrought in them by God, though He was pleased to use circumstances to

incline toward or prepare for that change: we purposely qualify our terms, for it

should be quite obvious that no mere "circumstances" could have wrought such a

change in their attitude toward the ruler of God’s appointment, unless He had so

"used" or influenced them by the same. So it is in connection with conversion: the

distressing "circumstances" of a sinner may be used of the Spirit to convict him of

the vanity of everything beneath the sun, and to teach him that no real heart

satisfaction is to be found in mere things—even though those "things" may be an

earthly mansion, with every thing in it that the flesh craves; but He must perform a

miracle of grace within the soul before any descendant of Adam is willing to pay full

allegiance to Christ as King!

4. David was thirty years old when he became king, and

he reigned forty years.

1. Constable, "Thirty years old (v. 4) was regarded as an ideal age at which to take

on responsibility (cf. �um. 4:3; Lk. 3:23)." Three prominent descendants of Jacob

began their ministries at or near the age of 30: Joseph (Gen. 41:46), David (v. 4),

and Jesus (Luke 3:23). The total years David reigned were 1011-971 B.C."

2. It was a long hard struggle for David to get to the throne, but he was a better man

for all his trials in getting there. W. Taylor wrote, “Success is not usually a sud-

den thing, or, if it be so, it is not a wholesome thing. Generally speaking, it is a

matter of time, and trial, and diligence, and study. The heat of the conservatory,

which brings the flower rapidly to maturity, does also nurse it into weakness, so that

its beauty is only short-lived; but the plant that grows in the open air is

strengthened while it grows, and is able to withstand even the biting winter's cold.

Resistance is necessary to the development of power ; and the greatest misfortune

that can befall a youth is to have no difficulties whatever with which to contend. It is

by over-mastering obstacles that a man's character is mainly made. Hence, let no

one be discouraged who is called in early life to struggle with adversity. He is

thereby only making himself for his future life-work.”

3. Ralph Waldo Emerson, “If one advances confidently in the direction of his

dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a

success unexpected in common hours.” David had reached a level of success that he

had dreamed of since he was a teenager. He goes on yet to higher and greater things,

but he has here reached the primary goal of his life to be the king of all Israel.

4. David is finally reaping the fruit of his faithfulness to God. The road of obedience

to God's known will has its share of pot holes and speed bumps, but it is the only

road that will get you to where God wants you to be. God chose David to be king,

but it took a lot of perseverance on his part to get to the throne. An unknown poet

wrote,

We must not hope to be mowers,

And to gather the ripe old ears,

Unless we have first been sowers

And watered the furrows with tears.

It is not just as we take it,

This mystical world of ours,

Life's field will yield as we make it

A harvest of thorns or of flowers.

5. David's life is a good illustration of the need for a goal to pursue. If you have a

goal to aim for, it makes it much easier to keep on striving to reach it when there are

obstacles in the way. If you have no goal, it does not matter if you give up and do not

press on, for you do not have the motivation to keep going. If you have an important

goal to reach, it will keep your focus on the right direction when circumstances are

forcing you to be distracted by other things. David could have become a permanent

outlaw, and settled down in his partnership with the enemies of Israel, but he never

gave up until he reached his goal of becoming king. We need to get a goal and keep

pursuing it until we reach it by the grace and guidance of God. Larry S. Chengges

wrote-

“Reach For Your Goals

Whatever the goal we're pursuing,

no matter how rugged the climb,

we're certain to get there by trying our best,

and taking one day at a time.

"Forever" is hard to imagine,

"The Future" may seem far away --

but every new dawn brings a wonderful

chance to do what we can on that day.

As you reach for the goals you would like

to achieve, may you find all the strength you

will need -- to meet every challenge, one step

at a time till the day when you proudly

SUCCEED!”

5. 5. 5. 5. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six

months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and

Judah thirty-three years.

1. Phillip S. Washburn, "How did Jerusalem get to be Jerusalem? The answer:

more or less the same way Washington D.C. got to be Washington D. C. Just look at

where Washington D.C., where the District of Columbia, is located. It's

approximately midway between the northern and southern colonies that became the

first thirteen states. Washington D.C. was neither north nor south. The actual site

belonged to no state. To this day it's a district, not a state.

And why did they feel the need to do this? To pick a neutral site? Answer: because

the union they were trying to put together was fragile...was a touch and go thing.

From the start the north and the south were profoundly at odds with each other.

�ow, according to the Bible, David makes Jerusalem his Royal City--his seat of

government. Why? Same reason: to make possible a fragile union between two

territories profoundly at odds with each other."

David Conquers Jerusalem

6. The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to

attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said

to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and

the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David

cannot get in here."

1. David wasted no time in taking action as the leader of all Israel. He was

determined that Jerusalem would be his capital city, and he marched with his army

to take it as soon as he became king. He does take it, but there is so little told us of

how it happened that commentators are mystified as to why there is no description

of one of the most important battles of David's life.

1B. Robert Roe, "David is now king of all Israel with headquarters at Hebron, the

capital of Judah. He wants to move his capital to Jerusalem, the city where, in

Abraham's time, Melchizedek was king and God was the High Priest. This was

brilliant thinking. It would eliminate the foreign wedge between the southern and

northern tribes. At this time, though, the city was called Jebus and was partially

held by the Jebusites, the local Canaanites. Jerusalem was a city of hills. Mt. Zion,

the southern hill, was very high and had valleys on two sides so it needed defence on

only one side. The Jebusites had built a citadel on that side and for 400 hundred

years had successfully resisted the attempts of the Jews to displace them. At this

time, the northern part of Jebus was inhabited by the Benjamites and the southern

part by the Jebusites who were quite safe in their citadel. They had a water supply

which had been provided by digging a 40 ft. shaft through rock down to the one

perpetual spring in all of Jerusalem which was just outside of this hill. They had

access to the water through this shaft and could sit up there with an abundant

supply of water. Incidentally, this is the same water source that Hezekiah accessed

by digging a 1800' tunnel from the Pool of Siloam. You can walk through it today.

This has been a source of water for Jerusalem for many years. It was very helpful

during sieges. Outside Jerusalem there is nothing. Any invading army attempting a

siege had to bring water from a long distance. It was quite a burden on them.

Meanwhile the Jews could sit inside the city drinking bubbly, fresh, pure, spring

water. At the time we are discussing here, so could the Jebusites. The place where

God wanted to establish his name was a defiant force of Amorites. It was the ideal

city for David to take. It did not belong to anybody yet, literally, that is. If he wanted

to unite the tribes of Israel, instead of some city that would cause jealousy, here was

a city in Benjamin, yet not really belonging to Benjamin, which had been

unconquerable for 400 years. It had real political implications. It would bring the

tribes together in a neutral position, and, if he could take it, it would display David's

remarkable ability to fight, to be their king, their leader, their captain. So his first

move in attempting to consolidate his empire was to move against the Jebusites. He

probably did it immediately because he had a large group of troops here which had

gathered to make him king."

2. Pink has the most detailed comments on the life of David. It is hard to choose

from his many comments. Here is the best from my perspective: “In 2 Samuel 5:6-9

a brief record is given of David wresting the stronghold of Zion out of the hands of

the Canaanites, and of his making it the capital of his kingdom. This, it is to be

noted, is the first thing recorded of our hero after all the tribes of Israel had made

him their king. By noting that order we pointed out that the coronation of David,

after the season which is now to be considered by us. In the previous chapter, we

pointed out that the coronation of David, after the season of his humiliation, was a

beautiful foreshadowing of the exaltation of His Son and Lord, the enthronement on

High of that blessed One who had been, in the main, despised and rejected by men

on earth. It therefore follows that the noble exploits of David after he came to the

throne, strikingly prefigured the work and triumphs of our ascended and glorified

Redeemer. It is thus, by looking beneath the mere historical upon the pages of the

Old Testament that we discover "in the volume of the Book" it is written of Christ.

The long-cherished desire of David’s heart—implanted there by God Himself—had

been accomplished, and he was now the head and governor of Israel. His real work

had only just commenced, his most glorious achievements were still to be

accomplished. His being crowned king over all Israel was but preparatory unto the

royal conquests he was to make. His previous exploits only served to manifest his

qualifications for the honored position and the important work which God had

appointed him. So it was with the Antitype. The enthronement of the Mediator at

the right hand of the Majesty on high was but the introduction to the stupendous

undertaking which God had assigned Him, for "He must reign till He bath put all

enemies under His feet" (1 Cor. 15:25)—a very plain intimation that His "reign"

has already commenced. The life-work, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus,

simply laid the foundation upon which His royal conquests are now being achieved.

It is a great and serious mistake made by many to suppose that the Lord Jesus is

now inactive, and to regard His being "seated" as denoting a state of inertia—such

Scriptures as Acts 7:55 and Revelation 2:1 ought at once to correct such an idea.

The word "sat" in Scripture marks an end and a beginning: the process of

preparation is ended, and established order is begun (cf. Gen. 2:2; Acts 2:3). We say

again that the real work of Christ (His atonement but laying the foundation thereof)

began only after He was invested with "all power (i.e. ‘authority’) in heaven and in

earth" (Matthew 28:18). This was plainly announced in the Messianic Psalms: after

God has set His king upon His holy hill of Zion, He was to ask of Him and the

heathen would be given Him for His inheritance, and He would reign over them

with a "rod of iron" (Ps. 2). "Rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies," was the

Father’s word to Him (Ps. 110).

To His chosen servants the Lord Jesus declared "Lo, I am with you alway, unto the

end of the world" (Matthew 28:20). On the day of Pentecost Peter declared,

"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the

Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He (Jesus) hath shed forth this, which ye now

see and hear" (Acts 2:33). Later, we are told, "they went forth, and preached

everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs

following" (Mark 16:20). There is much in the book of Revelation which makes

known to us the various activities in which the ascended Saviour is engaged, into

which we cannot enter. But sufficient has here been produced to show that the King

of saints is now wielding His mighty scepter to good effect.

Most blessedly was that which has been before us above typed out by the crowned

David. Upon his ascension to the throne he was far from indulging in ease or self-

luxuriation. It was now that his best achievements were accomplished. In that

section of 2 Samuel which we are entering we behold David capturing the

stronghold of Zion, vanquishing the Philistines, providing a resting-place for the

holy ark, and being concerned in building a temple for the worship of Jehovah. So

blessed is each of these incidents, so rich is their typical and spiritual import, that

we purpose, the Lord enabling, to devote a chapter unto the separate consideration

of each of them. May the Spirit of Truth graciously undertake for both writer and

reader, giving us eyes to see and hearts to appreciate the "wondrous things" hidden

away in this portion of God’s Holy Word."

3. Henry, ""If Salem, the place which Melchizedek was king of, was Jerusalem (as

seems probable from Ps. 76:2), it was famous in Abraham’s time; Joshua in his

times found it the chief city of the south part of Canaan: Joshua 10:1, 3. it fell to

Benjamin’s lot (Josh. 18:28), but joined close to Judah’s (Josh. 15:8). The children

of Judah had taken it (Judges 1:8), but the children of Benjamin suffered the

Jebusites to dwell among them (Judges 1:21); and they grew so upon them that it

became a city of Jebusites (Judges 19:21). �ow the very first exploit David did after

he was anointed king over all Israel, was to gain Jerusalem out of the hands of the

Jebusites; which, because it belonged to Benjamin, he could not well attempt till that

tribe, which long adhered to Saul’s house, submitted to him"

4. The Jebusites had nothing but insulting contempt for David and his army. They

said our handicap people could defend us against you. We will give our soldiers a

vacation, and leave our defenses in the hands of the blind and lame, and sleep in

peace with no fear of you. This sounds a lot like the pride and overconfidence that

David remembers hearing from Goliath before he shut him up by removing his

head.

5. Constable, "Jerusalem was an excellent choice for a capital. It stood on the

border between Benjamin and Judah so both tribes felt they had a claim to it. It was

better than Hebron in southern Judah far from the northern tribes, or Shechem,

Shiloh, or some other northern town that would have been too far from the

Judahites. Joshua had captured Jerusalem (Josh. 10), but shortly after that the

native inhabitants, the Jebusites, retook it (Judg. 1:21). The Jebusites were

descendants of Jebus, the third son of Canaan (Gen. 10:16; 1 Chron. 1:14).

It seems to have remained in Jebusite control since then. Its elevated location,

surrounded on three sides by valleys, made it fairly easy to defend. David may have

chosen Jerusalem also because he appears to have seen himself as the spiritual

successor of Melchizedek, a former king of Jerusalem in Abraham's day (Gen. 14;

cf. Ps. 110:4-6) One scholar estimated that the population of the city at this time was

about 2,500 people "Jerusalem is usually described as a city-state, and the position

envisaged after its storming by David and his troops is that it remained a city-state;

the coming of David meant only a change of city ruler. . . . The inhabitants

remained, but their fortress had now become the personal possession of David and

was under his control. Joab captured the city for David, and from then on people

referred to it as the City of David and Zion (1 Chron. 11:6)."

6. Keil, “ The Jebusites relied upon the unusual natural advantages of their citadel,

which stood upon Mount Zion, a mountain shut in by deep valleys on three different

sides; so that in their haughty self-security they imagined that they did not even

need to employ healthy and powerful warriors to resist the attack made by David,

but that the blind and lame would suffice.”

7. Gill, “which many understand of their idols and images, which had eyes, but saw

not, and feet, but walked not, which therefore David and his men in derision called

the blind and lame; these the Jebusites placed for the defence of their city, and put

great confidence in them for the security of it, and therefore said to David, unless

you can remove these, which you scornfully call the blind and the lame, you will

never be able to take the place. And certain it is the Heathens had their tutelar gods

for their cities as well as their houses, in which they greatly trusted for their safety;

and therefore with the Romans, when they besieged a city, the first thing they

attempted to do was by any means, as by songs particularly, to get the tutelar gods

out of it F2; believing otherwise it would never be taken by them; or if it could, it

was not lawful to make the gods captives F3: and to this sense most of the Jewish

commentators agree, as Kimchi, Jarchi, Ben Gersom, and R. Isaiah, who take them

to be images; some say, made of brass, which were placed either in the streets of the

city, or on the towers: it was usual with all nations to place on their walls both their

household and country gods, to defend them from the enemy F4. A learned

countryman of ours F5 is of opinion that these were statues or images talismanically

made, under a certain constellation, by some skilful in astrology, placed in the recess

of the fort, and intrusted with the keeping of it, and in which the utmost confidence

was put: but it seems better with Aben Ezra and Abarbinel, and so Josephus F6, to

understand this of blind and lame men; and that the sense is, that the Jebusites had

such an opinion of the strength of their city, that a few blind and lame men were

sufficient to defend it against David and his army; and perhaps in contempt of him

placed some invalids, blind and lame men, on the walls of it, and jeeringly told him,

that unless he could remove them, he would never take the city:”

7. 7. 7. 7. �evertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion,

the City of David.

1. Words have power, but they can also be weak and meaningless, as were the words

of the Jebusites. David did not pay attention to their words. He just went ahead and

got in the city anyway and took it for his own capital. The words of men need not

stop us when we have the Word of God to move forward.

2. "The choice of Jerusalem was a master-stroke and, of course, that decision still

reverberates in the politics of our world 3,000 years later. Zion seems to have been

the name of the hill on which the fortress stood (remember, Jerusalem would have

been much smaller in those days), a name that subsequently was extended to cover

the entire city, and then, by metonymy, to the entire nation of which it was the

capital. We do the same today when we speak of Washington consulting with

London about the situation in Kabul. Ponder for a moment those two names -

Jerusalem and Zion - and their place in the culture of the world and the heart of the

church: all because of David's decision to make his capital this particular Jebusite

city. Jerusalem in Christian thought and song is the church of Christ, it is also the

image of heaven itself." author unknown

3. Brian Morgan, "There is no emotional response recorded of David, nor is a single

detail of the battle given. There is but one verb of action, indicating that David

captured the stronghold of Zion. The silence, and the glaring absence of detail,

speak of the ease with which the city fell. The only thing we are privy to is the

inscription of the county recorder, who inscribes the city's new name in the books:

"the stronghold of Zion, the city of David." With one stroke of the pen, the long-

time settlers are dispossessed and the new king moves in. The once impenetrable

stronghold is now David's city."

4. Rossier, “Often facts of immense bearing are treated by the Word in a very few

verses. We cannot measure the value that God sets on an event by the length of the

account about it. Sometimes a short parenthesis contains a vast amount of most

profound truths, for example: the parenthesis in the first chapter of Ephesians

which unfolds the counsels of God concerning Christ and the Church (Eph. 1: 20-

23). Likewise the first three verses of Revelation 21 introduce us into all the glories

of eternity. And again, Psalm 23 in six verses gives us the entire life, conduct, and

experiences of the believer on earth from the cross to his introduction into the house

of the Lord. We could vastly multiply these examples. We find one such example in

the passage before us now. It concerns the capture of Jerusalem. This is the

beginning of an entirely new manner in which God now acts: it is the establishment

of His grace in the person of the king — power united with grace in order to

accomplish God's intentions when on man's side everything has failed.”

5. Maclaren, “2 Samuel 5:7 tells what the answer to this mocking shout from the

ramparts was, David did the impossible, and took the city. Courage built on faith

has a way of making the world’s predictions of what it cannot do look rather

ridiculous. David wastes no words in answering the taunt; but it stirs him to fierce

anger, and nerves him and his men for their desperate charge. The obscure words in

2 Samuel 5:8 , which he speaks to his soldiers, do not need the supplement given in

the Authorized Version. The king’s quick eye had seen a practical path for scaling

the cliffs up some watercourse, where there might be projections or vegetation to

pull oneself up by, or shelter which would hide the assailants from the defenders;

and he bids any one who would smite the Jebusites take that road up, and, when he

is up, ‘smite.’ He heartens his men for the assault by his description of the enemy.

They had talked about ‘blind and lame’; that is what they really are, or as unable to

stand against the Israelites’ fierce and sudden burst as if they were: and

furthermore, they are’ hated of David’s soul.’ It is a flash of the rage of battle which

shows us David in a new light. He was a born captain as well as king; and here he

exhibits the general’s power to see, as by instinct, the weak point and to hurl his

men on it. His swift decision and fiery eloquence stir his men’s blood like the sound

of a trumpet.

The proverb that rose from the capture is best read as in the Revised Version:

‘There are the blind and the lame; he cannot come into the house.’

The point of it seems to be that, notwithstanding the bragging Jebusites, he did

‘come into the house’; and so its use would be to ridicule boasting confidence that

was falsified by events, as the Jebusites’ had been. It was worth while to record the

boast and its end; for they teach the always seasonable lesson of the folly of over-

confidence in apparently impregnable defences. It is a lesson of worldly prudence,

but still more of religion. There is always some ‘watercourse’ overlooked by us, up

which the enemy may make his way. Overestimate of our own strength and its

companion folly, flippant underestimate of the enemy’s power, are, in all worldly

affairs, the sure precursors of disaster; and in the Christian life the only safe temper

is that of the man who ‘feareth always,’ as knowing his own weakness and the

strength of his foe, and thereby is driven to that trust which casts out fear.”

8. On that day, David said, "Anyone who conquers the

Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those

'lame and blind' who are David's enemies. " That is

why they say, "The 'blind and lame' will not enter the

palace."

1. Pink, “The literal or material "Zion" was a steep hill which lay just outside

Jerusalem, to the south west, on which had been built a fortress to protect the city.

It had two heads or peaks: Moriah, on which the temple was afterwards erected,

and the other on which was built the future residence of the kings of Israel. So steep

and inaccessible was Zion that, like a smaller Gibraltar, it had remained in the

hands of Israel’s foes. But undeterred by the natural difficulties and unmoved by

the contemptuous confidence of the Jebusites, David succeeded in wresting it from

the enemy, and became the founder of that Jerusalem which existed from that time

onwards."

2. Barnes, “The only access to the citadel was where the water had worn a channel

(some understand a subterranean channel), and where there was, in consequence,

some vegetation in the rock. Joab (see the marginal reference) took the hint, and

with all the activity that had distinguished his brother Anabel 2Sa_2:18, climbed up

first. The blind and the lame are either literally such, placed there in derision by the

Jebusites who thought the stronghold impregnable, or they are the Jebusite

garrison, so called in derision by David.

Wherefore they said ... - i. e. it became a proverb (as in 1Sa_19:24). The proverb

seems merely to have arisen from the blind and the lame being the hated of David’s

soul, and hence, to have been used proverbially of any that were hated, or

unwelcome, or disagreeable.”

3. Rober Roe, "In I Chronicles 11, he issues a challenge, whoever is first up the

water shaft and attacks the Jebusites shall be commander and captain of all Israel,

and Joab does just that. Joab may be an unprincipled character but he is smart, and

he is a good leader. He takes the gang up through the water shaft, breaks out into

the city and takes the whole citadel. He may have had in mind how the city of

Babylon was taken. Babylon also was impregnable. It was designed to be self-

sustaining with fields for growing food within its thick walls. With the Euphrates

river running through the middle of it, all nature of crops, fruits, nuts, cereals, could

be grown. It was fourteen miles on each side and had walls thick enough to race four

horse chariots along the top rushing troops from place to place. Well, Darius, the

Mede was pretty smart. When he wanted to take the city, which was down on the

plain, up behind the hill he built a viaduct. Then one night, when he wanted to take

the city, he collapsed the walls into the river thus making a dam and forcing the

water down this viaduct and around the city. His troops, then, just followed the

receding water down the river bed, walked under the city walls and slaughtered the

inhabitants. This is very much akin to what Joab did. This could be where David got

his idea of slipping up the shaft."

9. David then took up residence in the fortress and

called it the City of David. He built up the area around

it, from the supporting terraces inward.

1. Once you start quoting Pink it is hard to know where to stop. He has more than

what I am quoting, but this long quote gives his thought quite clearly. "�ow there

would be little or no difficulty in our perceiving the typical significance of the above

were it not that so many of our minds have been blinded by the errors of modern

"dispensationalism." A careful study of the connections in which "Zion" is found in

the Psalms and Prophets, makes it clear that "Zion" was the name by which the Old

Testament Church was usually called. "For the Lord hath chosen Zion; He hath

desired it for His habitation. This is My rest forever: here will I dwell; for I have

desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. I

will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for Mine

Anointed" (Ps. 132:13-17). Let the dubious (and also the interested) reader ponder

such verses as Psalms 74:2; 87:5; 102:13; 128:5; 133:3; Isaiah 51:16.

The Old Testament Church was designated "Zion" after the mount on which the

Temple was built, whither the tribes of Israel went up to worship Jehovah, who

dwelt between the cherubim. This name was duly transferred to the �ew Testament

Church, which is grafted into the Old, as the teaching upon the "olive" tree in

Romans 11 shows, and as the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 2:19-22 and 3:6 expressly

states. Such passages as Romans 11:26 (note carefully it is "out of Sion" and not

"unto Sion"); Hebrews 12:22; 1 Peter 2:6; Revelation 14:1, make it plain that the

�ew Testament Church is denominated "Sion," for the Church is now God’s abode

upon earth, His "temple" (2 Cor. 6:16), His "city" (Eph. 2:19), His "Jerusalem"

(Gal. 4:26—"which is above" is not to be understood astronomically, but means

"which excels"). Thus, all that is spoken of "Zion," of "the city of God," of

"Jerusalem" in the Old Testament in a spiritual way belongs unto Christians now,

and is for their faith to appropriate and enjoy.

The history of Jerusalem and Zion (for they are inseparably connected) accurately

foreshadowed what is found spiritually in the antitype. The first reference to the

same in Scripture presents that city as being under the benign scepter of

Melchizedek (Gen. 14: 18): so, originally, the Church was blest with all spiritual

blessings in Christ (Eph. 1:3). But, next, we see this city no longer in subjection to

the servant of God, but fallen into the hands of the heathen: so the Church

apostatized in Adam, God’s elect sinking to the natural level of the non-elect. Zion

now became inhabited by a race who were under the curse of God (Gen. 9:25): so, in

consequence of the Fall, God’s elect were by nature "the children of wrath even as

others" (Eph. 2:3). For centuries Zion refused to be subject unto the people of God

(Josh. 15:63, Judges 1:21); so the Gentiles were "aliens from the commonwealth of

Israel" etc. (Eph. 2:11, 12).

But, eventually, Zion was subdued and captured by David, and made his royal residence,

the Temple also being erected upon one of its mounts. Thus the stronghold of the enemy

was converted into a habitation of God, and became the throne of His government upon

earth. Wondrous figure was this of Christ’s conquest of the Gentile Church (Acts 15:14)

unto Himself, wresting it out of the hand of the enemy, bringing it into subjection

unto Himself, and setting up His throne in the hearts of its individual members.

Announcement to this effect was made by the Saviour when He declared, in view of

His immediate death (v. 32), "�ow shall the Prince of this world be cast out" (John

12:31). Satan was to be dethroned and driven from his dominion, so that Christ

would "draw" unto Himself many of those over whom the devil had reigned (Eph.

2:2). It is to be noted that the tense of the verb there denotes that the "casting out"

of Satan would be as gradual as the "drawing" (Alford).

At the Cross the Lord Jesus "spoiled principalities and powers," and at His ascension He

"made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Col. 2:15 and cf. Eph. 4:8).

At Calvary Satan’s hold over the world was broken: "the Prince of this world is judged"

(John 16:11). Then it was that the "strong man" (the devil) was "overcome" by One

stronger than himself, his armor being taken from him, and his "spoils" (captives) divided

(Luke 11:21, 22). And a manifestation of this fact is made every time an elect soul is

"delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God’s

dear Son" (Col. 1:13). Christ’s frequent casting out of demons. from the bodies of

men during the days of His flesh presaged His delivering the souls of His redeemed

from the dominion of Satan during this Gospel era.

That which our present type sets forth is not the Lord Jesus paying the ransom-

price for the purchase of His people (particularly, those among the Gentiles), but His

actual redeeming or delivering them from the power of the enemy. As David’s

capture of Zion followed his coronation, so that work his conquest prefigured

pointed to the victorious activities of Christ after His ascension. It is that which was

foretold in Psalm 110: 1-3. First, "Sit Thou at My right hand." Second, "The Lord

shall send the rod of Thy strength (the Gospel in the power of the Spirit) out of

Zion." Third, "Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power." One by one

those whom the Father gave to Christ are subdued by His grace, made willing to

throw down the weapons of their warfare against His Son, and His throne is set up

in their hearts (2 Cor. 10:5).

10. And he became more and more powerful, because

the LORD God Almighty was with him.

1. Pink, " The tide of fortune had turned, and the once despised fugitive now waxed

great in power and reputation, in wealth and honor, subduing his enemies, and

enlarging his dominion. But all his success and prosperity was entirely owing to

Jehovah showing Himself strong on his behalf: without His enablement, none of us

can accomplish anything good (John 15:5)."

2. Peter Wade, “God's secrets of success are the only secrets that really have

guaranteed results. Certainly there is help in the many success books, magazines,

and tapes that are now available, but I believe God planned success for His people

from the beginning of time. In Joshua 1:8 God said, "This Book of the Law shall not

depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may

observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way

prosperous, and then you will have good success." In my particular copy of the

Bible I have underlined the two words "then", so that the guarantee stands out

when I read that passage. This promise of prosperity and success is clearly based

upon knowing God's principles and acting upon them. To know these principles you

must meditate in the Bible day and night, that is, constantly. Then you must act

upon the rich, divine prospering ideas that God will give you. "You will make your

way prosperous..." You will do the work, but God has guaranteed the success. “

11 �ow Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David,

along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons,

and they built a palace for David.

1. David becomes an international figure with alliances with foreign nations. As king

of Judah we read of no such alliances, but now he is king of the entire nation of

Israel, and that commands respect from other powers. David began to look for

resources outside of his own country to do work for him that his people were not

trained or equiped to do.

2. Constable sees this happening a good while later. He wrote, "The information we

have about Hiram, the king of Tyre, indicates that he reigned there about 980-947

B.C.64 That would mean Hiram's reign coincided with only the last nine years of

David's reign and the first 24 years of Solomon's reign. This information helps ussee

that David built his palace (v. 11) late in his reign. Verse 11 therefore evidently does

not describe something that took place immediately after David captured and

fortified Jerusalem (vv. 6-10). It was a later project. The writer probably mentioned

it here because it illustrates another important evidence of David's control over all

Israel. "David has joined the nations. David is a practitioner of alliances and

accommodations..."

3. Joyce Baldwin notes: "Tyre [was] an important port which already at the time of

David had for centuries been trading in the eastern Mediterranean. The hinterland

of Tyre was noted for its cedars, and the port boasted skilled workers in wood and

stone... This foreign recognition was indeed a new development."

4. Barnes, “Hiram king of Tyre - �ow mentioned for the first time. He survived

David, and continued his friendship to Solomon (marginal references). The news of

the capture of the city of the Jebusites had doubtless reached Tyre, and created a

great impression of David’s power.”

5. Keil, “Hiram king of Tyre, was not only an ally of David, but of his son Solomon

also. He sent to the latter cedar-wood and builders for the erection of the temple and

of his own palace (1Ki_5:8.; 2Ch_2:2.), and fitted out a mercantile fleet in

conjunction with him (1Ki_9:27-28; 2Ch_9:10); in return for which, Solomon not

only sent him an annual supply of corn, oil, and wine (1Ki_5:11; 2Ch_2:9), but when

all the buildings were finished, twenty years after the erection of the temple, he

made over to him twenty of the towns of Galilee (1Ki_9:10.). It is evident from these

facts that Hiram was still reigning in the twenty-fourth, or at any rate the twentieth,

year of Solomon's reign, and consequently, as he had assisted David with

contributions of wood for the erection of his palace, that he must have reigned at

least forty-five or fifty years; and therefore that, even in the latter case, he cannot

have begun to reign earlier than the eighth year of David's reign over all Israel, or

from six to ten years after the conquest of the Jebusite citadel upon Mount Zion.”

6. Gill, “and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons;

these might not be sent at first, but David intending to build himself an house,

might, by the messengers on their return, request of Hiram to send him timber and

workmen for that purpose; the people of Israel being chiefly employed in cultivating

their fields, and vineyards, and oliveyards, and feeding their flocks and herds, few of

them had any skill in hewing: timber and stone, and building houses, at least not

like the Tyrians and Sidonians; see (1 Kings 5:6) ; and accordingly he sent him

cedars from Lebanon, a great part of which was in his dominions, and artificers in

����wood and stone, to build his house in the most elegant manner:

12 And David knew that the LORD had established him

as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the

sake of his people Israel.

1. David had his doubts about what would happen when he was fleeing from Saul all

those years. It seems like a leap of faith hard to imagine, but he held in there, and

now when it is real he knows that it was God's guidance and protection all along

that brought him to this place. �ote that it was not all done just to honor David, but

to be a blessing for God's people. God works through individuals to be a blessing to

the masses. Very seldom to never does God exalt anyone just for their own sake.

They are exalted for the sake of the full people of God.

2. Constable, "Verse 12 is key to understanding why David prospered as Israel's

king. David realized that Yahweh was Israel's real sovereign. Saul was never willing

to acknowledge this and viewed himself as the ultimate authority in Israel. In

contrast, David regarded his own kingship as a gift from God. He realized, too, that

God had placed him on the throne for the Israelites' welfare, not for his own

personal glory. Saul failed here as well. David had a proper view of his role in

Israel's theocratic government. Second Samuel 5:10-16 is most likely a summary of

David's entire reign followed by his military (5:17-25), cultic (i.e., formal worship;

ch. 6), and theological (ch. 7) achievements. This pattern follows the conventional

annalistic style of documenting the reigns of kings that was common in ancient �ear

Eastern historiography (history writing)."

3. Deffinbaugh has some interesting comments here: "The text informs us that it

was not until after this palace had been built that David fully grasped that he was

indeed king of all Israel. It was like a dream to him for so long, but now he knew

that God's promise had been fulfilled. What was it about the building of this house

that brought about this realization? I am inclined to think that the reason may be

related to this proverb:

Prepare your work outside And make it ready for yourself in the field; Afterwards,

then, build your house (Proverbs 24:27).

Israel was an agricultural nation. One would not be wise to build his house before

he had prepared his field. Once the field was prepared, the farmer could devote

himself to building his house, because the crops would need time to grow. It was

simply a matter of putting first things first. It would be like a man moving to Dallas

from Detroit, buying a house in Duncanville and fixing it up nicely, only to find that

the only job available was in McKinney. He would have been far better off to tend to

getting a job first, and then finding a home to purchase. �ow that David had a

house, a place of his own, it was obvious that his “job” as Israel's king was certain

and secure. The reality that God had finally and fully fulfilled His promise that

David would reign over His people finally sank in. What David had waited for more

than 20 years was now his. The building of his palace in Jerusalem convinced David

it had all come true."

13 After he left Hebron, David took more concubines

and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters

were born to him.

1. Again, David goes on to build up a hugh family by taking more concubines and

wives into his palace and bed. It is hard for modern commentators to pass by these

notes without condemning David, even though the author, not God, have a negative

words to say. Maybe God is silent because he is not opposed to David having

multiple wives, and a harem beside. Commentators are constantly saying that David

is sinning in doing so, but explain that God does not say or do anything about it

because he is such a good guy, and he is God's choice to be king. What about Saul

who was also God's choice, but when he sinned he was condemned by God for it, but

David is not ever slapped on the wrist for what they say is a violation of God's will.

Commentators are so slip shod in saying David is going great evil, but God is just

letting him get by with it, and not rocking the boat by expressing any disapproval. It

is all so superficial, and communicates that God allows certain people to defy his

will and go on sinning more and more without sending someone to express

condemnation as he did when �athan came and condemned David for his affair

with Bathsheba. Why not here and elsewhere, if this is really going against the will

of God as they say. They always quote the law in Deut 17:17 about kings not

multiplying wives, but there is no establishing just how many is authorized, and

when does a king go beyond that limit. Maybe David never did, and that is implied

by God's acceptace of David's family. At the bottom of my commentary on II

Samuel chapter 2 you can find a study that makes it clear that it was acceptable to

God to have multiple wives. It was part of the law, and God ever added wives to

David's family from Saul's harem, making him even more powerful.

2. Constable, "Again David sinned by multiplying wives (Deut. 17:17). �evertheless

in spite of this sin God continued to bless him with fertility because he was God's

elect and, for the most part, God's obedient servant. Fortunately God does not cut

off all His blessings because His servants are less than perfect. "This is the first time

that concubines are mentioned in connection with David (cf. also 1 Chron 11:21)—

and it is also the only time that the phrase 'concubines and wives' occurs in the Bible

(the usual order is 'wives and concubines'; cf. 19:5; 1 Kings 11:3; 2 Chron 11:21;

Dan 5:2-3, 23)."

3. I appreciate Deffinbaugh's more moderate approach in commenting on David's

multiple wives. He wrote, "There was a second part to the building of David's house,

and that was the building of his family. While David did have wives and children

before moving to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 2:2; 3:2-5), it was there in Jerusalem that he

added a number of other wives and they bore him other children. In the minds of

those in the ancient orient, many wives and many children meant prosperity.

Measured by this standard, David truly prospered in Jerusalem! The problem was

that in adding a number of wives David came dangerously close to multiplying

wives, in a way that disregarded this warning to Israel's kings: “He shall not

multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly

increase silver and gold for himself” (Deuteronomy 17:17)." My comment is that we

know that Solomon came more than dangerously close, for his wives did turn him

away from the will of God. We read nowhere that David was ever influenced by his

wives to depart from the will of God. He did so at times, but it was his choice, and

not because he had rebel wives leading him to sin.

4. This issue of multiple wives bothers people, and Robert Roe, who believes it was

sinful disobedience of David to take multiple wives also recognizes the need to

understand culture and the need for slow change. He wrote, "�ow God does allow

for cultural habits or patterns. When the gospel moves into a new area, God does

not upset the local culture. However, we do. We have done it many times. As I have

mentioned to this class before, we have done it in Africa. We have put women into

prostitution in the name of Jesus Christ. Multiple wives were normal in the tribes.

We went into the tribes, won them to Christ, then laid down Western rules. "OK,

you are allowed one wife only, and that is the first one. The rest of them have got to

go." Well, in their culture there was no market for a used wife. So their only

alternative was prostitution. In the name of Jesus Christ, we put women into

prostitution. We don't do that any more. We make missionaries take a course in

cultural anthropology before we send them out. God changes the lives of the people,

and then allows the changed lives to begin to change the culture." The fact is, it was

a cultural problem in Israel, for many women were left widows because of all the

wars, and they too would have to become prostitutes if they could not find a man

who would add them to their family. It is hard to understand critics of multiple

wives when God's whole plan to build a kingdom of people called Israel was based

on multiple wives. The twelve tribes of Israel came from multiple wives with God's

full approval, and almost all of the great men in Scripture had multiple wives. Still,

the critics who do not like what God approved, are perpetually condemning David

for his sinful behavior. It was part of God's law that plural wives were valid among

God's people. We see it stated clearly in Ex. 21:10-11says this to the man who takes

a second wife, "If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of

her food, clothing and marital rights. 11 If he does not provide her with these three

things, she is to go free, without any payment of money." Again, if you want all of

the evidence, see the Appendix in my commentary on II Sam. 2

14 These are the names of the children born to him

there: Shammua, Shobab, �athan, Solomon,

15 Ibhar, Elishua, �epheg, Japhia,

16 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

1. Someone stated, "With the exception of Solomon, none of the sons born in

Jerusalem grew up to be of any historical importance." This is impossible to

determine, for they may have become important in their time, but did not receive

any comments in Scripture because God's plan was to go through Solomon rather

than any of the others. We know nothing of what they did with their lives, and so

we cannot make any meaningful comments on if they were good or bad, or famous

or infamous. They were part of a royal family, and so they got nothing but the best

in training and education.

David Defeats the Philistines

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been

anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to

search for him, but David heard about it and went

down to the stronghold.

1. Pink, “The civil war in Israel, which had continued for several years, having been

brought to an end, and the whole nation being now united under the government of

David, he had thereby become much more powerful. Probably hearing, too, of

David’s capture of Jerusalem (v. 7) and of the friendship shown him by Hiram, king

of Tyre (v. 11), the Philistines now thought it was high time to bestir themselves and

put an end to his prowess. Accordingly they assembled a great army against him,

but were overthrown, though not annihilated.

It was to carry forward the conquest of Canaan—begun by Joshua, but long

interrupted (see Judges 1:21-36) that God had raised up David. "And Abner had

communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to

be king over you: now then do it; for the Lord hath spoken of David, saying, By the

hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel out of the hand of the

Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies" (2 Sam. 3:17, 18). Chief among

Israel’s enemies were the Philistines. They had long been a serious menace to God’s

people, and eventually succeeded in slaying Saul and his sons (1 Sam. 31:1-6). But

now the time had come for God to stain their pride, fight against them, and

overthrow their forces. "The triumphing of the wicked is short" (Job. 20:5); so

discovered Pharaoh, Haman, Rabshakeh, �ero; and so shall it be with those who

now oppose the Lord and His people."

2. Constable's quotes, ""So long as David was king only of Judah, the Philistines

were content to tolerate his rule, but when he was proclaimed king of all Israel he

became too powerful to be trusted, hence these two concerted efforts to divide his

territory, and so weaken his effectiveness." "Although by no means the only battles

King David fought against the Philistines (cf. 8:1), these serve as a paradigm to

summarize the continuing conflict."

3. Deffinbaugh, "One can only imagine the conversations which must have taken

place among the 5 Philistine kings when they received word that David had become

king of Israel. Achish must have caught the brunt of the criticism for his role in

offering David sanctuary among them (1 Samuel 21:10-15; 27:1--28:2; 29:1-11).

David was actually a part of the Philistine army for a short time, and this would give

him knowledge that could now be used against the Philistines. And so it was that the

Philistines chose to go on the offensive, hoping to break the back of David's army,

and to rid themselves of a formidable foe."

4. Brian Morgan, "This may give a clue as to why David was in such a hurry to

capture Jerusalem: he needed a secure stronghold against a looming invasion.[1] We

must never forget the terror evoked by a Philistine threat. Archaeological findings

have shown that the Philistines were among the most advanced cultures in the

ancient world.[2] They were leaders in international trade; and in parts of Palestine

they held a monopoly on both local and overland commerce. Their cities were highly

developed; their agricultural and military prowess were second to none. To face

them in battle was to confront the most sophisticated and disciplined war machine

of that day."

5. Gill, “That the civil war in the nation was now at an end, which they hoped would

have issued in their destruction, and therefore lay still and quiet; but now being

united under the government of David, and he hereby greatly strengthened and

become powerful; and hearing also of his success against Jerusalem, and the

friendship he had contracted with Hiram king of Tyre, they thought it was high time

to bestir themselves, and put a stop to his power and greatness; and now it was, as

Kimchi thinks, that David penned the second psalm, which begins, "why do the

Heathen rage"… (Psalms 2:1-12)

6. For an interesting study of what Archaeology has discovered about David's palace

helped by this verse to to file:///G:/BIBLE%20ALL%2066/J%20%20II

%20SAMUEL/CHAPTER%205/palacedavid.html

18 �ow the Philistines had come and spread out in the

Valley of Rephaim;

1. Pink, “The valley of Rephaim was but a short distance from Jerusalem: no doubt

the Philistines expected to make themselves masters of that strategic city before

David had time to complete the fortification of it. In the words "spread themselves"

indication is given that their force was a large one: "all the Philistines" (v. 17)

probably denotes that their five principalities (1 Sam. 6:16,18) were here combined

together. Little did they realize that they were rushing onward to their destruction,

for they knew not the might of David’s scepter nor the power of Jehovah who had

exalted him. The Philistines were unaware of the fact that the living God was for

David, as He had not been for Saul."

19 so David inquired of the LORD , "Shall I go and

attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?"

The LORD answered him, "Go, for I will surely hand

the Philistines over to you."

1. Pink, “This is very blessed, accentuated by the final clause in verse 17, which is in

marked contrast to what is recorded in verse 18: in the one we read "and David

heard of it, and went down to the hold"; in the other we are told that the Philistines

"came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim." In sharp antithesis from

the self-confident Pharisees, David took a lowly place and evidenced his dependence

upon God. Instead of accepting their challenge and immediately engaging them in

battle, David turned to the Lord and inquired His will for him. O that writer and

reader may cultivate this spirit more and more: it is written "In all thy ways

acknowledge Him," and the promise is, "and he shall direct thy paths" (Prov. 3:6).

And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt Thou

deliver them into mine hand"? �ot as the mighty man of valor did he impetuously

rush ahead, but as the man submissive to his God did the king here act: most

probably it was through Abiathar, by means of the urim and thummim in his

ephod, that the Lord’s mind was sought. His inquiry was twofold: concerning his

duty and concerning his success: "his conscience asked the former, his prudence the

latter" (Matthew Henry). His first concern was to make sure he had a divine

commission against the Philistines. In view of 2 Samuel 3: 18 his duty seemed clear,

but the question was, Is it God’s time for me to act now! His second concern was

whether the Lord would prosper his efforts, for he realized that victory was entirely

dependent upon God—unless He delivered the Philistines into his hand, all would be

in vain.”

2. Here we see a very practical kind of prayer. It is asking God a specific question,

and then listening for his answer. This is the kind of guidance we need in many

circumstances of life. In many situations it makes no difference if you buy brown

shoes or black shoes, or have carrots or beans for supper. Many things are free

choices, and none of them are out of God's will. It is when we are facing a crucial

and crisis choice that we need to know which way to go. That is when we need to get

specific, and listen carefully to hear from the Spirit of God who dwells within us as

believers.

20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he

defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, the

LORD has broken out against my enemies before me."

So that place was called Baal Perazim. [4]

1. Pink, “Here, too, David has left a noble example for us to follow, and the more

closely we do so, the more will God be honored, and the more will further successes

be assured for us. Having obtained mercy to be dependent, David found grace to be

humble, and ascribed the victory unto its true Author: "The Lord hath broken forth

upon mine enemies before me"—as when a swollen river bursts its banks and

carries all before it. In every forward step, in every resistance to temptation, in

every success in service, learn to acknowledge "yet not I, but the grace of God which

was with me" (1 Cor. 15:10). May writer and reader be delivered from the self-

praising, boastful, Laodicean spirit of this evil age, saying, "�ot unto us, O Lord,

not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory" (Ps. 115:1).

2. FROM SU�DAY SCHOOL LESSO�S, "The promised victory was soon

realized.The word “Perazim” means breakings forth, or breaches. �ot only does

David undertake the battle by the counsel of Jehovah, but he gives to the place of his

triumph a name forever suggestive of God’s assistance in battle. V. 21. The place

where the attack burst forth was a rocky height on the �orth of the valley of

Rephaim. David must, therefore, have stolen round the army of the Philistines,

creeping, probably by night, up to the ridge of Ben-hinnom, and at dawn of day

rushed down upon the camp. His attack was irresistible, -like the rush of the waters

of some mountain lake when, swollen with rains,- it burst through the opposing dam

and carried hasty destruction to everything that lay in its way. Proof of the

suddenness of the attack is the fact that the Philistines has to flee without taking

with them their images which they took into battle for sake of protection. David’s

men burned these idol-gods as the law required, Deut. 7:5, 25.

3. Brian Morgan, "We are given much more detail concerning David's reflections

following the battle than the actual battle itself (a six to one ratio of words).

According to the text, God's holiness broke out "like the breakthrough of waters."

This may be a clue that God intervened with a flash flood--a common occurrence in

that area. A flood would have been especially effective if the Philistines had fanned

out in the valley in a sea of chariots. "The Jebusites were outmaneuvered via their

water conduit ...and now it is the Philistines' turn to be subjected to the surprise

attack of a flash flood."

4. Gill, “And David came to Baalperazim…

As it was after called, for here it has its name by anticipation, and whither the

Philistines were come from the valley of Rephaim; see (1 Chronicles 14:11 ) ; which

was at no great distance, the one being the hill, to which the other was the valley,

computed to be about three miles from Jerusalem, in the way to Bethlehem F21,

between which places were two hours' travels F23:

and David smote them there;

there a battle was fought, in which David had the victory assured him:

and said, the Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as

the breach of waters;

as when waters, through their mighty force, break down the banks of rivers, and

carry all before them; or as one breaks an earthen vessel full of water, so the

Targum on (1 Chronicles 14:11 ) .

therefore he called the name of the place Baalperazim;

which signifies "the master of breaches", where the Philistines were broke in upon,

and broken to pieces, of which God was the author, and which gave David the

mastery over his enemies; the Targum renders it "the plain of breaches", and seems

to take it to be the same with the valley of Rephaim; see (2 Samuel 5:22 ) .

21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and

David and his men carried them off.

1. So much for superstition and good luck charms. They were common in the

ancient world and are so yet today, but they have no power to determine anything.

We need, like David, to put our faith in the power and guidance of the Lord, and not

in any idol made by the hands of man.

2. Pink, "“�o doubt the Philistines had expected both protection and help from

their idols, but they failed them in the hour of need: equally vain and impotent will

prove any visible or material thing in which we put our trust. �ow they were

unwilling to preserve such gods as were unable to preserve them: "God can make

men sick of those things that they have been most fond of, and compel them to

desert what they doted upon, and cast even the idols of silver and gold to the moles

and bats (Isa. 2:20)" (Matthew Henry). In burning the idols of the Philistines, David

not only made clean work of his victory, but obeyed God’s order in Deuteronomy

7:5: "thou shalt . . . burn their graven images with fire."

22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in

the Valley of Rephaim;

1. Pink, “Yes, even though we have the promise "Resist the devil, and he will flee

from you" (James 4:7), there is no assurance given that he will not return. He

departed from the Saviour only "for a season" (Luke 4:13), and thus it is with His

followers. Yet let not his return to the attack discourage us: it is but a summons to

renewed waiting upon God, seeking fresh strength from Him daily, hourly. "And

when David enquired of the Lord, He said" (v. 23). On this second occasion also

David sought Divine guidance: even though he had been successful in the first

battle, he realized that further victory depended entirely upon the Lord, and for

that he must be completely subject to Him."

23 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 balsam trees.

1. God is on the side of David and his forces, and he knows just what is needed for

victory. How wonderful for a general to have God doing the planning, for there is

full assurance that his plan will work. �ever has prayer been more important than

when the victory over a great foe in dependant upon such guidance. God always has

the best strategy for victory over whatever foe is to be overcome and defeated.

2. Pink, “This is striking: here was the same enemies to be met, in the same place,

and under the same Lord of hosts, and yet God’s answer now is the very opposite of

the previous one: then it was, "Go up"; now it is "Go not up," but make for their

rear—circumstances may seem identical to human sight, yet on each occasion God

is to be sought unto, trusted and obeyed, or victory cannot be insured. A real test of

obedience was this for David, but he did not argue or decline to respond; instead, he

meekly bowed to the Lord’s will. Here is the man "after God’s own heart"—who

waited upon the Lord, and acted by His answer when it was given. �or did he lose

by it: "The Lord shall go before thee to smite the hosts of the Philistines": God is

ready to do still greater things when we own what He has already done for us!

David did not act mechanically when the Philistines came against him the second

time, and do according as God had instructed him on the first occasion; instead, he

definitely inquired of Him again! Circumstances may seem identical to our dim

vision, nevertheless, it is our duty and wisdom to wait upon the Lord on all

occasions, trustfully seeking His instructions, implicitly obeying when His will is

made clear to us through His Word. In no other way can victory over the lusts of the

flesh and the subtle wiles of the devil, be insured. As we saw in our last, the Lord did

not give David the same answer on the second occasion as He had given him in the

first. His response was quite different: the first time He said, "Go up" (v. 21); the

second time He said, "thou shalt not go up, but fetch a compass behind them," etc.

It is at that point, particularly, that there is important instruction for us.

On the first occasion the Lord said unto David, "Go up, for I will doubtless deliver

the Philistines into thine hand" (v. 19). But on the second, 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" (vv. 23, 24). That made a greater

demand upon David’s faith, patience and submission, than the former order did. It

was humbling to the pride of the flesh not to make an open and frontal attack. It

called for quite a march to circle around and get to their rear. And when he got

there, he must wait until he heard a movement in the boughs of the mulberry trees;

and waiting is much harder than rushing ahead. The lesson here is, that as we grow

in grace and progress in practical godliness, the Lord requires fuller and fuller

submission to Himself.”

3. Constable, "This time, in response to David's prayer, the Lord prescribed an

attack from the rear (v.23). The sound of marching in the treetops among which the

Israelites took cover (wind?) would be the sign that the Lord was going before his

army to strike the enemy (v. 24; cf. Acts 2:2). The name "Gibeon" replaces "Geba"

in the text in the parallel account of this battle (1 Chron. 14:16). Gibeon is probably

correct. If David pursued the Philistines through the Aijalon valley, he probably

went through Gibeon northwest of Jerusalem rather than Geba to the northeast.

Gezer stood in the Shephelah 14 miles west of Gibeon on the Philistine border.

These victories cleared the Philistines from the hill country of Judah and Benjamin

and made it possible for David to establish a secure capital in Jerusalem. Had he not

defeated them his reign would have gotten off to a much weaker start. Saul had also

begun his reign by defeating the Philistines (1 Sam. 7).

4. Spurgeon, "When David made this enquiry he had just fought the Philistines, and

gained a signal victory. The Philistines came up in great hosts, but, by the help of

God, David had easily put them to flight. �ote, however, that when they came a

second time, David did not go up to fight them without inquiring of the Lord. Once

he had been victorious, and he might have said, as many have in other cases, "I shall

be victorious again; I may rest quite sure that if I have conquered once I shall

triumph yet again. Wherefore should I tarry to seek at the Lord's hands?" �ot so,

David. He had gained one battle by the strength of the Lord; he would not venture

upon another until he had ensured the same. He inquired, "Shall I go up against

them?" He waited until God's sign was given. Learn from David to take no step

without God. Christian, if thou wouldst know the path of duty, take God for thy

compass; if thou wouldst steer thy ship through the dark billows, put the tiller into

the hand of the Almighty. Many a rock might be escaped, if we would let our Father

take the helm; many a shoal or quicksand we might well avoid, if we would leave to

His sovereign will to choose and to command. The Puritan said, "As sure as ever a

Christian carves for himself, he'll cut his own fingers;" this is a great truth. Said

another old divine, "He that goes before the cloud of God's providence goes on a

fool's errand;" and so he does. We must mark God's providence leading us; and if

providence tarries, tarry till providence comes. He who goes before providence, will

be very glad to run back again. "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which

thou shalt go," is God's promise to His people. Let us, then, take all our perplexities

to Him, and say, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Leave not thy chamber this

morning without enquiring of the Lord.

4B. The tendency of most all of us would be to forget the need to go to prayer this

second time. Life is busy and we already have an answer, so why bother God for a

second opinion on this new raid of the enemy? The following clever work answers

that question.

A.S.A.P.

Ever wonder about the abbreviation A.S.A.P.? Generally we think of it in terms of

even more hurry and stress in our lives. Maybe if we think of this abbreviation in a

different manner, we will begin to find a new way to deal with those rough days

along the way.

"There's work to do, deadlines to meet;

You've got no time to spare,

But as you hurry and scurry -

A.S.A.P.- ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

In the midst of family chaos,

"Quality time" is rare.

Do your best; let God do the rest -

A.S.A.P.- ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

It may seem like your worries

Are more than you can bear.

Slow down and take a breather -

A.S.A.P.- ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

God knows how stressful life is;

He wants to ease our cares,

And He'll respond to all your needs

A.S.A.P. - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

~Author Unknown~

5. An unknown poet wrote-

He does not lead me year by year

�ot even day by day

But step by step my path unfolds;

My Lord directs my way.

Tomorrows plans I do not know,

I only know this minute;

But He will say, "This is the way;

By faith now walk ye in it."

And I am glad that it is so,

Todays enough to bear;

And when tomorrow comes,

His grace shall far exceed its care.

What need to worry then or fret?

The God who gave His Son

Holds all my moments in His Hand

And gives them one by one.

6. Success in so many lives can be attributed to prayer for God's guidance and

wisdom in pursuing goals that please him. A great example in our culture is that of

Walt Disney. Here is his testimony: " Deeds rather than words express my concept

of the part religion should play in everyday life. I have watched constantly that in

our movie work the highest moral and spiritual standards are upheld, whether it

deals with fable or with stories of living action.

This religious concern for the form and content of our films goes back 40 years to

the rugged financial period in Kansas City when I was struggling to establish a film

company and produce animated fairy tales. Many times during those difficult years,

even as we turned out Alice in Cartoonland and later in Hollywood the first Mickey

Mouse, we were under pressure to sell out or debase the subject matter or go

"commercial" in one way or another. But we stuck it out -- my brother Roy and

other loyal associates -- until the success of Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphonies

finally put us in the black.

....whatever success I have had in bringing clean, informative entertainment to

people of all ages, I attribute in great part to my Congregational upbringing and my

lifelong habit of prayer. To me, today, at age sixty-one, all prayer, by the humble or

highly placed, has one thing in common: supplication for strength and inspiration to

carry on the best human impulses which should bind us together for a better world.

Without such inspiration, we would rapidly deteriorate and finally perish. "

24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the

tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will

mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike

the Philistine army."

1. Deffinbaugh, "Some seem to think that is was merely the noise of the wind in the

trees that concealed the sounds of David's approach. I think there is more to it than

this. God is infinite, and He seems to delight in bringing military victory to His

people in an endless array of means. He has used a thunderstorm, with its bolts of

lightening and rains, which is downright unhealthy for those whose weapons are

made of iron, and the mud caused by the rains don't help chariots to function well,

either (see 1 Samuel 7:10). God later employed an earthquake to shake up the

enemy (1 Samuel 14:15). Earlier, God gave Israel victory over the Amorites by

stoning the enemy with hailstones (Joshua 10:11). In 2 Kings chapter 7, God

frightened off the Syrian army by causing them to hear the sounds of a great army,

yet there was none (verses 6-7). I am therefore inclined to take the words of our text

(2 Samuel 5:24) as a report of another great “multimedia presentation” by God,

which served to unnerve the enemy and to pave the way for their defeat at the hand

of David. This defeat was such that David pursued the Philistines back to their own

territory (Gezer is virtually on the border of Philistine territory). The defeat of the

Philistines is decisive."

2. Gill, “...move towards the camp of the Philistines, and fall upon them in the rear,

who, by reason of the sound in the trees, would not hear the motion of the Israelites;

or, if they heard it, would take it to be no other than the motion of the trees they

heard, both sounds being confounded together; or they would take the sound they

heard for the motion of the enemy in the front, and give way, and so fall into the

hands of the Israelites in their rear, which must throw them into the utmost

confusion and consternation:”

3. Spurgeon, "As the Rabbis have it, and it is a very pretty conceit if it be true, the

footsteps of angels walking along the tops of the mulberry trees make them rustle;

that was the sign for them to fight, when God’s cherubim were going with them,

when they should come, who can walk through the clouds and fly through the air,

led by the great Captain himself, walking along the mulberry trees, and so make a

rustle by their celestial footsteps.

The members of Christ's Church should be very prayerful, always seeking the

unction of the Holy One to rest upon their hearts, that the kingdom of Christ may

come, and that His "will be done on earth, even as it is in heaven;" but there are

times when God seems especially to favour Zion, such seasons ought to be to them

like "the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees." We ought then to be

doubly prayerful, doubly earnest, wrestling more at the throne than we have been

wont to do. Action should then be prompt and vigorous. The tide is flowing now let

us pull manfully for the shore. O for Pentecostal outpourings and Pentecostal

labors. Christian, in yourself there are times "when thou hearest the sound of a

going in the tops of the mulberry trees." You have a peculiar power in prayer; the

Spirit of God gives you joy and gladness; the Scripture is open to you; the promises

are applied; you walk in the light of God's countenance; you have peculiar freedom

and liberty in devotion, and more closeness of communion with Christ than was

your wont. �ow, at such joyous periods when you hear the "sound of a going in the

tops of the mulberry trees," is the time to bestir yourself; now is the time to get rid

of any evil habit, while God the Spirit helpeth your infirmities. Spread your sail; but

remember what you sometimes sing "I can only spread the sail; Thou! Thou! must

breathe the auspicious gale."

4. Spurgeon has a point, for there are unusual times in life, and actually times that

are once in a lifetime, and we need to be ready to take advantage of them just as

David did with the strange sounds God gave him in the trees, and he defeated the

Philistines. Somethings only happen once, and never again, as is the case with the

marching sounds in the trees, but there are individuals ready to take advantage of

such special times. For example, Branch Rickey tells this amazing story: "Many

years ago, when I was managing the St. Louis Browns, I lost a game to Detroit in the

last half of the eleventh inning in a very unusual manner, nothing else like it in the

record books anywhere. Detroit came to bat in the last half of he 11 inning in a tie-

score game, two men out and nobody on the bases, when a player named Ty Cobb

came to bat. Cobb got a base on balls and then scored the winning run without

another ball being pitched. By sheer adventure and skill he forced two wild throws

by St. Louis infielders. His daring at first base, his boldness and skillful turn at

second, his characteristic slide ten feet before he reached third, his quick

coordination following his slide--all brought about four "breaks" in his favor. He

made what amounted to a home run out of a base on balls." Once in a lifetime, but

one man was ready to play it all the way to victory. Be ready to respond in

obedience if God does something unique and special in your life.

25 So David did as the LORD commanded him, and he

struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to

Gezer.

1. Henry, "David observed his orders, waited God’s motions, and stirred then, and

not till then" Complete success was granted him: God performed His promise and

routed all the enemy’s forces. How that should encourage us! "When the kingdom

of the Messiah was to be set up, the apostles, who were to beat down the devil’s

kingdom, must not attempt anything till they receive the promise of the Spirit, who

‘came with a sound from Heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind’ (Acts 2:2), which

was typified by this ‘sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees’; and when

they heard that, they must bestir themselves, and did so: they went forth conquering

and to conquer"

2. "Unlike the first victory, which was a separate and smaller engagement, David

now inflicts a general military defeat on the Philistines, driving them from the

territory in Israel that they had occupied. Breaking the back of the Philistine

menace was the greatest military achievement of David's reign and created the

opportunity for Israel's military and economic expansion during David and

Solomon's reign." author unknown

3. Gill, “and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer;

or from Gibeon, as in (1 Chronicles 14:16 ) ; a city in the tribe of Benjamin, near to

which this battle was fought, and where the pursuit began, which was carried as far

as Gazer, a city that lay on the borders of the Philistines, as Josephus says; and so

far they were pursued, and were smitten as they fled; and, according to Bunting, it

����was a space of eighteen miles.