2Sa 5:1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
Then came all the tribes of Israel - Ishbosheth the king, and Abner the general, being dead, they had no hope of maintaining a separate kingdom, and therefore thought it better to submit to David’s authority. And they founded their resolution on three good arguments:
1. David was their own countryman; We are thy bone and thy flesh.
2. Even in Saul’s time David had been their general, and had always led them to victory; Thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel .
3. God had appointed him to the kingdom, to govern and protect the people; The Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people and be a captain over Israel .
Then came all the tribes of - All the rest of the tribes, save the tribe of Judah , who had made him king over them in Hebron seven years ago. These were ambassadors sent in the name of the several tribes to him, quickly after the deaths of Abner and Ishbosheth; from having any hand in which David had sufficiently cleared himself, and which had tended to reconcile the minds of the people of Israel to him:
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. David possessed the first and indispensable qualification for the throne; namely, that of being an Israelite Deu_17:15 you shall surely set a king over you, whom the LORD your God shall choose. You shall set a king over you from among your brothers. You may not set a stranger over you, who is not your brother. Of his military talent he had furnished ample proof. And the people's desire for his assumption of the government of Israel was further increased by their knowledge of the will and purpose of God, as declared by Samuel.
2Sa 5:2 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.
thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel - that led out the armies of Israel against their enemies, fought their battles for them, obtained victories, and brought the troops under his command home in safety;
the Lord said to thee - when anointed by Samuel; for though what follows is not recorded in so many words, yet the sense of it is expressed in the anointing him to be king, whose office, as such, lay in doing those things:
thou shalt feed my people Israel - as a shepherd feeds his flock; hence kings were frequently called shepherds, and David particularly, in which he was an eminent type of Christ, Psa_78:70-71 He also chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes great with young He brought him to feed Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance. This expression, he uses to admonish David, that he was not made a king to advance his own glory, but for the good of his people; whom he ought to rule with all tenderness, and to watch over with all diligence.
thou shalt be a captain over Israel - the Targum is,"and thou shalt be king over Israel ;''which gives the true sense of the verse.
2Sa 5:3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.
Before the Lord - Abiathar and Zadok the priests were both with David, and the tabernacle and altar may have been at Hebron , though the ark was at Kirjath-jearim.
They anointed David king - This was the third time that David was anointed, having now taken possession of the whole kingdom. The first was by Samuel, pointing out the person the Lord chose and appointed king; the second was by the tribe of Judah, when they invested him with the office of a king over them; and now by all the tribes, when he was inaugurated into the whole kingdom of Israel;
the elders of Israel came to the king - Which either explains what is meant by the tribes coming to him, 2Sa_5:1; namely, coming by their elders as their representatives; or else the meaning is, that the messengers the tribes sent, when they returned and reported the favorable reception they had met with from David; the elders of the several tribes, the princes or principal men met, and came together to David in Hebron:
David made a league with them - 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";
King David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord--This formal declaration of the constitution was chiefly made at the commencement of a new dynasty, or at the restoration of the royal family after a usurpation (2Ki_11:17), though circumstances sometimes led to its being renewed on the accession of any new sovereign (1Ki_12:4). It seems to have been accompanied by religious solemnities.
2Sa 5:4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
David was thirty years old when he began reign - Over Judah , which was the age of his antitype Christ, when he entered upon his public ministry, Luk_3:23,
he reigned forty years - and six months, as appears by 2Sa_5:5; but the months are not mentioned, only the round number of years given
2Sa 5:5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.
2Sa 5:6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.
The king and his men went to Jerusalem - This city was now in the hands of the Jebusites; but how they got possession of it is not known, probably they took it during the wars between Ishbosheth and David. After Joshua’s death, what is called the lower city was taken by the Israelites; and it is evident that the whole city was in their possession in the time of Saul, for David brought the head of Goliath thither, 1Sa_17:54. It appears to have been a very strong fortress, and, from what follows, deemed impregnable by the Jebusites. It was right that the Israelites should repossess it; and David very properly began his reign over the whole country by the siege of this city.
the king and his men went to Jerusalem - Which, at least part of it, belonged to the tribe of Benjamin; and therefore until all Israel, and that tribe, with the rest, made him king, he did not attempt the reduction of it, but now he immediately set out on an expedition against it:
The king and his men went to Jerusalem - David immediately after being anointed king of Israel , probably wished to signalize his accession by an exploit which would be popular with all Israel , and especially with Saul’s tribe, Benjamin. He discerned the importance of having Jerusalem for his capital both because it belonged as much to Benjamin as to Judah , and on account of its strong position.
Except thou take away the blind - Rather, “and (the Jebusite) spake to David, saying, Thou shalt not come hither, but the blind and the lame shall keep thee off,” i. e. so far shalt thou be from taking the stronghold from us, that the lame and blind shall suffice to defend the place. Nothing could be more cutting to a warrior.
unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land - who inhabited the country about it, and even dwelt in that itself; for the tribe of Judah could not drive them out at first from that part of it which belonged to them, nor the tribe of Benjamin from that part which was theirs; in short, they became so much masters of it, that it was called, even in later times, Jebus, and the city of the Jebusites; Jos_15:63 Jdg_1:21,
except thou take away the blind and lame – They confided in the strength of their fortifications, which they thought so impregnable, that the blind and the lame were sufficient to defend them, against the most powerful assailant. And probably they set a parcel of blind and lame people, invalids or maimed soldiers, to make their appearance on the wall, in contempt of David and his men.
except thou take away the blind and lame – 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.
David cannot come in hither - it is impossible for him to enter it, he cannot and shall not do it, and very probably these words were put into the mouths of the blind and lame, and they said them frequently.
the king went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites--The first expedition of David, as king of the whole country, was directed against this place, which had hitherto remained in the hands of the natives. It was strongly fortified and deemed so impregnable that the blind and lame were sent to man the battlements, in derisive mockery of the Hebrew king's attack, and to shout, "David cannot come in hither." To understand the full meaning and force of this insulting taunt, it is necessary to bear in mind the depth and steepness of the valley of Gihon , and the lofty walls of the ancient Canaanitish fortress.
2Sa 5:7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
The stronghold of Zion - Or castle 1Ch_11:5, 1Ch_11:7. A fortress without the city, and separate from it, and which was very strong; and the taking it might facilitate the taking of the city, which yet as appears by what follows, was very difficult to do
The same is the city of David - The name afterward given to it 2Sa_5:9, where he built an house, and dwelt, and by which it was known in the writer’s time.
The stronghold of Zion - This was the name of the southern and loftiest mountain of Jerusalem . Upon this stood the fortress or citadel of the town, which had hitherto remained in the possession of the Jebusites; whereas the northern portion of the city of Jerusalem, which was upon lower ground, had been conquered by the Judaeans and Benjaminites very shortly after the death of Joshua (see Jdg_1:8).
2Sa 5:8 And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.
by the gutter or watercourse - 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
The blind and the lame - They 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 - 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.
whosoever getteth up to the gutter - A learned writer gives a more probable interpretation of these words thus;"whosoever (first) smiteth the Jebusites, and through the subterraneous passages reaches the lame and the blind,'' This seems to be favored by Josephus who says, the king promised the command of the whole army to him who should "through the subterraneous cavities", go up to the citadel, and take it.
whosoever getteth up to the gutter - David being willing to spare the walls of the city, ordered the citizens should enter into the city by an aqueduct;
The blind and the lame - if these could be understood of their idols and images, the phrase would be easily accounted for, nothing being more abominable to David than idolatry:
he shall be chief and captain - these words are not in the original text here, but are supplied from 1Ch_11:6 And David said, Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first and was chief that is, he shall be chief commander of the army, as Joab became, who was the first that went up and smote them:
wherefore they said, the blind and the lame shall not come into the house - that is, either the Jebusites said this, that their images, called in derision by David the blind and the lame, if these did not keep David out, they should never be intrusted with the safety of their fort any more or rather because the blind and the lame men said this of David, he shall not come into the house.
2Sa 5:9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
David dwelt in the fort - or stronghold, (as in 2Sa_5:7) when the buildings were completed, which may not have been for two or three years. Millo appears to have been a fortress of some kind, the northern defense of the city of David , and to have been a part of the original Canaanite defenses of Zion , as appears probable also from there having been a fortress called the house of Millo in the Canaanite city of Shechem . Jdg_9:6 And all the leaders of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo. And they came and made Abimelech king beside the plain of the pillar in Shechem. 2Sa_9:1-13 :20 Millo may be the native name.
David built round about - Probably meaning built his own house and other houses and streets, all, in short, that caused it to be coiled the city of David . Compare 1Ch_11:8 And he built the city all around, even from Millo all around. And Joab repaired the rest of the city.
David built round about - built a wall about it, and enlarged the place, increased the buildings both within and without. Millo is supposed to be a ditch round the fort, full of water, from whence it had its name; or was a large hollow place which divided the fort from the lower city, and which afterwards Solomon filled up, and made it a level, and therefore is called so here by anticipation; Millo being no other than the fortress or citadel; which, as Josephus says, David joined to the lower city, and made them one body, and erecting walls about it made Joab superintendent of them;
the city of David - Having taken it by storm, he changed its name to "the city of David ," to signify the importance of the conquest, and to perpetuate the memory of the event.
David built round about from Millo and inward--probably a row of stone bastions placed on the northern side of Mount Zion , and built by David to secure himself on that side from the Jebusites, who still lived in the lower part of the city. The house of Millo was perhaps the principal corner tower of that fortified wall.
2Sa 5:10 And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.
And David went on, and grew great - In honor and wealth, in fame and reputation, in subduing his enemies, obtaining conquests over them, and enlarging his dominions:
The Lord was with him - to whom all his prosperity and success was owing.
2Sa 5:11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
Hiram king of Tyre - Now mentioned for the first time. He survived David, and continued his friendship to Solomon. The news of the capture of the city of the Jebusites had doubtless reached Tyre , and created a great impression of David’s power.
Hiram king of Tyre - This was father of that Hiram that lived in the times of Solomon, whose name was Abibalus before he took the name of Hiram, which became a common name of the kings of Tyre ;
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; 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:
and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons – This affords clear evidence of the low state to which, through the disorders of long-continued war, the better class of artisans had declined in Israel .
2Sa 5:12 And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.
And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel - By the prosperity and success which attended him in everything he set his hand to:
King over Israel - That he might be a blessing to them, and they might be happy under his administration.
He had exalted his kingdom for His people Israel's sake because He had chosen Israel as His people, and had promised to make it great and glorious.
2Sa 5:13 And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
David took him more concubines - He had, in the whole, eight wives and ten concubines. Polygamy is unnatural, and could never have entered into the original design of God.
David took him more concubines - He had six when he was at Hebron, 2Sa_3:2, and now he took more, which was not to his honor, and contrary to the law of God, In this conduct David transgressed an express law, which forbade the king of Israel to multiply wives unto himself Deu_17:14-17 When you come to the land which the LORD your God gives you, and shall possess it and shall live in it and shall say, I will set a king over me, like all the nations around me, you shall surely set a king over you, whom the LORD your God shall choose. You shall set a king over you from among your brothers. You may not set a stranger over you, who is not your brother. But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, so as to multiply horses, because the LORD has said to you, You shall return no more that way from now on. Nor shall he multiply wives to himself, so that his heart does not turn away. Nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold to himself.
David took him more concubines - It seems to have been his policy, that hereby he might enlarge his family, and strengthen his interest by alliances with so many considerable families. But all these did not preserve him from coveting his neighbor's wife. Rather they inclined him to it: for men who have once broke the fence, will wander carelesly.
2Sa 5:14 And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
These be the names - Eleven children are here enumerated in the Hebrew text; but the Septuagint has no less than twenty-four. The names of his sons, for his daughters are not mentioned, and these seem to be such only that were born of his wives, see 1Ch_3:9.
These be the names - One scholar says David had therefore nineteen sons, six of whom were born in Hebron (2Sa_3:2.), and thirteen at Jerusalem . Daughters are not mentioned in the genealogical accounts, because as a rule only heiresses or women who acquired renown from special causes were included in them. There is a daughter named Thamar mentioned afterwards in 2Sa_13:1.
Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon - these four were by Bathsheba; the first of these is called Shimea, 1Ch_3:5 And these were born to him in Jerusalem Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four of Bathsheba the daughter of Ammiel
2Sa 5:15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia - Elishua is called Elishama, 1Ch_3:6 with another Elishama in verse 8.
2Sa 5:16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet - Seven more by some other wife or wives; nine are mentioned in 1Ch_3:6; there being in that account two Eliphalets, and another called Nogah; which two, one of the Eliphalets, and Nogah, might die without sons and so are not mentioned here.
2Sa 5:17 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.
The Philistines came up to seek David - Ever since the defeat of the Israelites and the fall of Saul and his sons, the Philistines seem to have been in undisturbed possession of the principal places in the land of Israel; now, finding that David was chosen king by the whole nation, they thought best to attack him before his army got too numerous, and the affairs of the kingdom were properly settled.
all the Philistines came up to seek David - in order to fight him, all the five principalities of the Philistines combined together against him;
But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel - That the civil war in the nation was now at an end, which they hoped would have issued in the destruction of Israel; but now being united under the government of David, greatly strengthened and 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.
when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel--During the civil war between the house of Saul and David, those restless neighbors had remained quiet spectators of the contest. But now, jealous of David, they resolved to attack him before his government was fully established.
and went down to the hold - some fortified place or strong hold near Jerusalem, which lay lower than the city, or than the strong hold of Zion, in which David dwelt; hither he went, not so much for safety, or with an intention to abide there, but as a rendezvous for his men, and to prepare to meet the Philistines.
2Sa 5:18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
the valley of Rephaim - Or "of the giants", Jos_15:8 And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom to the south side of the Jebusite. It is Jerusalem. And the border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the valley of Hinnom westward, at the end of the Valley of the Giants northward; which lay to the west of Jerusalem; of which; the Philistines spreading themselves in it, shows that they were very numerous.
valley of Rephaim--that is, "of giants," a broad and fertile plain, which descends gradually from the central mountains towards the northwest. It was the route by which they marched against Jerusalem . The "hold" to which David went down "was some fortified place where he might oppose the progress of the invaders," and where he signally defeated them.
2Sa 5:19 And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
David inquired of the Lord - By Abiathar, and the Urim and Thummim, in the ephod he had on: He considered himself only the captain of the Lord’s host, and therefore would not strike a stroke without the command of his Superior .
2Sa 5:20 And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.
Baal-perazim - Master or possessor of breaches, equivalent to place of breaches. It was on a hill near Gibeon .
Baal-perazim - The plain or chief of breaches, because of the breach which God made in the Philistine army; and thus he commemorated the interference of the Lord.
The Lord hath broken forth - He very properly attributes the victory of Jehovah, without whose strength and counsel he could have done nothing.
2Sa 5:21 And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.
And there they left their images - An indication of the precipitancy of their flight, and the suddenness with which the Israelites burst upon them like a “breach of waters.” It was the custom of most nations to carry their gods with them to battle: in imitation of this custom the Israelites once took the ark and lost it in the field;
And there they left their images - When the ark fell into the hand of the Philistines, it consumed them: but when these images fell into the hands of Israel , they could not save themselves from being consumed.
David and his men burnt them - that is, his men burnt them at his command, 1Ch_14:12 And they left their gods there. And David commanded, and they were burned with fire; agreeably to the law of God, that so no profit might be made of them, Deu_7:5 But you shall deal with them in this way: you shall destroy their altars and break down their images, and cut down their groves and burn their graven images with fire; In this way David fully avenged the disgrace brought upon Israel by the Philistines, when they carried away the ark in the time of Eli.
2Sa 5:22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
And the Philistines came up yet again - as Josephus says, with an army three times larger than the former:
spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim - in the same place where they were before, 2Sa_5:20. The expression intimates, that they were very numerous, and made a very formidable appearance.
2Sa 5:23 And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
The mulberry trees - Rather, the Bacah-tree. It is very like the balsam-tree, and probably derives its name from the exudation of the sap in drops like tears when a leaf is torn off. Some think the valley of Baca Psa_84 :6 was so called from this plant growing there.
Fetch a compass behind them – Go around behind them.
2Sa 5:24 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.
When thou hearest the sound of a going - By the going in the tops of the mulberry trees probably only a rustling among the leaves is intended and that in such a manner as to resemble the going of men, or march of armies.
that then thou shall bestir thyself - or 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;
2Sa 5:25 And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.
Geba and Gazer – Better written as “ Gibeon .” Gazer should be “ Gezer ” (Jos_10:33, etc).
David did so as the Lord commanded him - In all things he was obedient to the command of God; Saul was not: he got behind the army of the Philistines, as he was directed; and when he heard the sound in the mulberry trees, he arose and fell upon his enemies:
