2 Samuel — Chapter 5
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1Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
2Also 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.
3So 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.
4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.
6And 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.
7Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
8And 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.
9So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
10And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.
11And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
12And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.
13And 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.
14And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
15Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
16And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
17But 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.
18The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
19And 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.
20And David came to Baal-perazim, 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 Baal-perazim.
21And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.
22And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
23And 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.
24And 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.
25And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.
1Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
2In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was thou that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and Jehovah said to thee, Thou shalt be shepherd of my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.
3So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Jehovah: and they anointed David king over Israel.
4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.
6And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who 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.
7Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.
8And David said on that day, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and [smite] the lame and the blind, that are hated of David`s soul. Wherefore they say, There are the blind and the lame; he cannot come into the house.
9And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
10And David waxed greater and greater; for Jehovah, the God of hosts, was with him.
11And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.
12And David perceived that Jehovah had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel`s sake.
13And 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.
14And these are the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
15and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
16and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17And when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold.
18Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
19And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And Jehovah said unto David, Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into thy hand.
20And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and he said, Jehovah hath broken mine enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.
21And they left their images there; and David and his men took them away.
22And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
23And when David inquired of Jehovah, he said, Thou shalt not go up: make a circuit behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees.
24And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then is Jehovah gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.
25And David did so, as Jehovah commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gezer.
1All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron saying, “Look, we are your very flesh and blood!
2In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the real leader in Israel. The Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over Israel.’”
3When all the leaders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, King David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the Lord. They designated David as king over Israel.
4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for forty years.
5In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
6Then the king and his men advanced to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who lived in the land. The Jebusites said to David, “You cannot invade this place! Even the blind and the lame will turn you back, saying, ‘David cannot invade this place!’”
7But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David).
8David said on that day, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must approach the ‘lame’ and the ‘blind’ who are David’s enemies by going through the water tunnel.” For this reason it is said, “The blind and the lame cannot enter the palace.”
9So David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. David built all around it, from the terrace inwards.
10David’s power grew steadily, for the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies was with him.
11King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a palace for David.
12David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
13David married more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he arrived from Hebron. Even more sons and daughters were born to David.
14These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17When the Philistines heard that David had been designated king over Israel, they all went up to search for David. When David heard about it, he went down to the fortress.
18Now the Philistines had arrived and spread out in the valley of Rephaim.
19So David asked the Lord, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to David, “March up, for I will indeed hand the Philistines over to you.”
20So David marched against Baal Perazim and defeated them there. Then he said, “The Lord has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.” So he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
21The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men picked them up.
22The Philistines again came up and spread out in the valley of Rephaim.
23So David asked the Lord what he should do. This time the Lord said to him, “Don’t march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees.
24When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at that moment the Lord is going before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”
25David did just as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.
1Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and spoke, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
2In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and in. Yahweh said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be prince over Israel.’”
3So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over Israel.
4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
6The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “The blind and the lame will keep you out of here”; thinking, “David can’t come in here.”
7Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. This is David’s city.
8David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him go up to the watercourse and strike those lame and blind, who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame can’t come into the house.”
9David lived in the stronghold, and called it David’s city. David built around from Millo and inward.
10David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh, the God of Armies, was with him.
11Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, with cedar trees, carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.
12David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.
13David took more concubines and wives for himself out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David.
14These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.
18Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
19David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?” Yahweh said to David, “Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
20David came to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there. Then he said, “Yahweh has broken my enemies before me, like the breach of waters.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
21They left their images there; and David and his men took them away.
22The Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
23When David inquired of Yahweh, he said, “You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and attack them in front of the mulberry trees.
24When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then stir yourself up; for then Yahweh has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”
25David did so, as Yahweh commanded him, and struck the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.
Summary
All twelve tribes anoint David king at Hebron; he conquers Jerusalem and makes it his capital. The Philistines attack twice, but David inquires of the LORD and defeats them decisively both times.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Jerusalem (Jebus): The Jebusite stronghold David captures — "the stronghold of Zion," becomes "the City of David"
- The water shaft (Warren's Shaft): How Joab's men penetrate the city's defenses — an underground water system
- Baal-perazim and the Valley of Rephaim: Southwest of Jerusalem — two battles where David defeats the Philistines
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes the significance of Jerusalem's capture — a neutral city that united the tribes under David's rule. He also notes that David's two battles with the Philistines required different strategies, teaching that we must seek fresh guidance from God for each new challenge rather than relying on past methods.
- Charles Spurgeon: "David inquired of the Lord the second time, and received a different answer. The same enemy, the same valley, but a different strategy. God does not always work in the same way. He who would follow the Lord must be willing to receive new instructions for new situations. Yesterday's method may be today's presumption. The sound in the mulberry trees was God's signal — David must wait for God to move first, then follow. So must we."
Reflection
- 1. God's timing is worth the wait (vv.1-3). David waited over fifteen years from his first anointing (1 Samuel 16) to this moment — king over all Israel. The waiting included persecution, exile, civil war, and grief. But God's promise was fulfilled completely. When God's timing feels unbearably slow, remember David's fifteen years.
- 2. Authority exists for those under it (v.12). David "perceived that the LORD had established him king... for his people Israel's sake." The kingdom was not David's reward — it was Israel's provision. Every position of authority — in church, family, or work — exists to serve those under it, not to benefit the one who holds it.
- 3. Seek fresh guidance for each new challenge (vv.19, 23). David inquired of God before both battles — and received different strategies each time. What worked at Baal-perazim would not work the second time. God's methods are not formulaic. We cannot reduce His guidance to a system. Each situation requires fresh dependence.
- 4. Wait for God to move first (v.24). David had to wait for "the sound of marching in the tops of the trees" before attacking. God goes before us — our job is to follow His initiative, not to run ahead of Him. Patience is not passivity; it is readiness to act the moment God moves.
- 5. The impossible becomes possible when God is with you (vv.6-7). The Jebusites mocked David — their fortress was impregnable. But "the LORD God of hosts was with him" (v.10). No fortress, no obstacle, no enemy is too strong when God is present. The question is never "How strong is the opposition?" but "Is God with us?"