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 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 ) ,
all the Philistines came up to seek David:
in order to fight him, all the five principalities of the
Philistines combined together against him; perhaps his old friend
Achish king of Gath was now dead, or had now entertained a
different opinion of him:
and David heard [of it];
that they had invaded his kingdom, and sought to fight him:
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.