2 Samuel 5:21

21 They abandoned their idols there, so 1David and his men carried them away.

2 Samuel 5:21 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 5:21

And they left their images
Their idol gods, which they brought with them to protect and defend them, and give them success; perhaps in imitation of the Israelites, who formerly brought the ark of God into their camp against the Philistines, ( 1 Samuel 4:3-6 ) ; and it appears to have been the custom of other countries, in later times, to bring their gods with them to battle F24:

and David and his men burnt them:
that is, his men burnt them at his command, ( 1 Chronicles 14:12 ) ; agreeably to the law of God, that so no profit might be made of them, ( Deuteronomy 7:5 ) ; the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, and others, render it, "and took them", or "carried them away" F25; as they might do, and, after they had exposed them in triumph, then burnt them.


FOOTNOTES:

F24 "Omnigenumque Deum" Virgil. Aeneid. l. 8.
F25 (Mavyw) (kai elabosan autouv) , Sept. "tulit", V. L. Tigurine version, Montanus; "sustulit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

2 Samuel 5:21 In-Context

19 Then David inquired of the LORD , saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?" And the LORD said to David, "Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand."
20 So David came to Baal-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 David and his men carried them away.
22 Now the Philistines came up once again and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim.
23 When David 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.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 1 Chronicles 14:12
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