2 Samuel 5:6-25

6 ¹Now the king and his men went to ²Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, and they said to David, "You shall not come in here, but the blind and lame will turn you away "; thinking, "David cannot enter here."

7 Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is ³the city of David.

8 David said on that day, "Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him reach the lame and the blind, who are hated by David's soul, through the water tunnel." Therefore * they say, "The blind or the lame shall not come into the house."

9 So David lived in the stronghold and called it ⁴the city of David. And David built all around from the ⁵Millo and inward.

10 ⁶David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of hosts was with him.

11 ⁷Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees and carpenters * and stonemasons *; and ⁸they built a house for David.

12 And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

13 Meanwhile ⁹David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David.

14 Now ¹⁰these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

16 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

War with the Philistines

17 When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, ¹¹all the Philistines went up to seek out David; and when David heard of it, he went down to the ¹²stronghold.

18 Now the Philistines came and spread themselves out in ¹³the valley of Rephaim.

19 Then ¹⁴David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?" And ¹⁵the LORD said to David, "Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand."

20 So David came to ¹⁶Baal-perazim and defeated them there; and he said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters." Therefore * he named * that place Baal-perazim.

21 They abandoned their idols there, so ¹⁷David and his men carried them away.

22 Now ¹⁸the Philistines came up once * again and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim.

23 When ¹⁹David inquired of the LORD, He said, "You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.

24 "It shall be, when ²⁰you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then ²¹the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines."

25 Then David did so, just as the LORD had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from ²²Geba as far as ²³Gezer.

2 Samuel 5:6-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 5

In this chapter we have an account of all the tribes of Israel coming to Hebron, and anointing David king over them, 2Sa 5:1-5; of his expedition against the Jebusites in Jerusalem, and taking from them the strong hold of Zion, 2Sa 5:6-10; of his building an house for himself, and of his building up his family, by taking more wives and concubines, and having more children, whose names are given, 2Sa 5:11-16; and of an invasion of the land by the Philistines, and David's victory over them, 2Sa 5:17-25.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Chronicles 11:4-9
• 2. Joshua 15:63; Joshua 18:28; Judges 1:21
• 3. 2 Samuel 6:12, 16; 1 Kings 2:10; 1 Kings 9:24
• 4. 2 Samuel 5:7
• 5. 1 Kings 9:15, 24
• 6. 2 Samuel 3:1
• 7. 1 Kin 5:1, 10, 18; 1 Chronicles 14:1
• 8. Ps 30: title
• 9. Deuteronomy 17:17; 1 Chronicles 3:9
• 10. 1 Chronicles 3:5-8
• 11. 1 Samuel 29:1
• 12. 2 Samuel 23:14; 1 Chronicles 11:16
• 13. Genesis 14:5; Joshua 15:8; Joshua 17:15; Joshua 18:16
• 14. 1 Samuel 23:2
• 15. 2 Samuel 2:1
• 16. 1 Chronicles 14:11; Isaiah 28:21
• 17. 1 Chronicles 14:12
• 18. 2 Samuel 5:18
• 19. 2 Samuel 5:19
• 20. 2 Kings 7:6
• 21. Judges 4:14
• 22. Isaiah 28:21
• 23. Joshua 12:12; Joshua 21:21

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "David, saying"
• [b]. Lit "saying"
• [c]. I.e. citadel
• [d]. Lit "David smote"
• [e]. I.e. the master of breakthrough
• [f]. Or "baka-shrubs"
• [g]. Or "baka-shrubs"
• [h]. In 1 Chr 14:16, "Gibeon"
• [i]. Lit "until you are coming to"