2 Samuel 5
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CHAPTER 5
David Becomes King Over Israel (5:1–5)
(1 Chronicles 11:1–3)
1–2 Representatives of all the northern tribes of Israel came to Hebron to invite David to become their king. With no strong leader, the northern tribes were vulnerable to Philistine attacks, and so they recognized their urgent need for a new leader. They might have selected someone from a northern tribe, but they had three reasons for choosing David. First, he was of their own flesh and blood (verse 1)—that is, a fellow Israelite. Second, David had been an effective military leader during Saul’s time (verse 2). Third, and most important, David had been chosen by the Lord to be the shepherd and ruler of Israel (see 1 Samuel 13:14; 16:1,13).
The concept of the shepherd-king” is very important in both the Old and New Testaments. Just as a shepherd protected and nurtured his sheep, so a godly king was expected to protect and nurture his people. David, though himself imperfect, became the model of a shepherd-king, and also the forerunner of the true Shepherd-King, Jesus Christ (see John 10:11,14; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 5:1–4).
3 Then David made a compact with the elders of Israel. This compact” was essentially a covenant12 between David and the people: David agreed to protect and serve the people, and the people agreed to be loyal and obedient to him as king. In other words, David was not to become an “absolute monarch” who could treat the people under him like slaves; just as the people had obligations to David, so he had obligations to them—to serve them and to do what was best for them. This ideal of the “servant-leader” came to full realization in Christ, who did not come to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45).
This compact was made before the LORD; the Lord was witness to it, and He would hold accountable anyone who violated it. Because of this, the compact was unique in the ancient world. All other kings in Old Testament times held absolute power over their subjects; nothing restrained them from doing as they pleased. But the kings of Israel were under God. The only protection mankind has from tyranny and dictatorship is the fear of God on the part of both ruler and people. David became the first constitutional monarch” in history, and it was God alone who made it possible.
When the compact had been made, the elders anointed David king over Israel. This was David’s third anointing. The first had been before his family (1 Samuel 16:13); the second had been before the men of Judah (2 Samuel 2:4). Now the elders from all the Israelite tribes had anointed David, publicly acknowledging that he had become their king.
4–5 David was thirty years old when he became king of Judah and thirty-seven years old when he became king over all Israel and Judah.13
David Conquers Jerusalem (5:6–16)
(1 Chronicles 3:5–9; 11:4–9; 14:1–7)
6 One of the first things David did after becoming king of all Israel was to seize control of Jerusalem14 and make it his capital. Canaanite people called the Jebusites15 had been living there; previously the Israelites had tried to drive them out but without complete success (Joshua 15:63; Judges 1:8,21).
Jerusalem was an excellent choice for David’s capital. It was located on the border between the tribal territories of Judah (David’s tribe) and Benjamin (Saul’s tribe). Thus its location symbolized the joining together of the northern and southern tribes, which David had just united under his leadership.
Furthermore, Jerusalem had strong walls and was surrounded on three sides by deep valleys; thus it was easy to defend. The Jebusites boasted that even the blind and the lame could defend it (verse 6).
7 Nevertheless, in spite of Jerusalem’s fortifications, David was able to capture it. Here Jerusalem is called the fortress of Zion.16 The “fortress” was the walled portion of the city. When David took up residence in Jerusalem he called it the City of David, a name still used in New Testament times (Luke 2:11).
8 In this verse, the writer describes the actual capture of the city. David’s men got inside the city by walking up through a water shaft, a secret tunnel that connected the city to a spring of water outside the walls. In the event the city was besieged, the tunnel enabled the residents to obtain water without being seen by their enemies. But David learned of the existence of this tunnel and used it to his own advantage. David returned the Jebusites’ taunt about the lame and the blind being able to defend their city, and the Jebusites thenceforth were derisively referred to as the blind and lame. Since the Jebusites were enemies of David, they were never allowed into David’s palace after it was built. They were, however, allowed to live in other parts of the city, even after it came under David’s control.
According to 1 Chronicles 11:6, just before attacking Jerusalem David told his men, “Whoever leads the attack . . . will become commander-in-chief.” Joab led the attack and thus officially became the commander of David’s army.
9–10 Along the steep slopes outside the city, supporting terraces had been constructed; David further built these up. And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord was with him (see 1 Samuel 16:13; 18:14; 2 Samuel 3:1). The Lord was the source of David’s growing power. But even as David’s power increased, he never forgot that it was the Lord who had established him as king (verse 12).
11–12 Hiram king of Tyre became a close ally of both David and his son Solomon. Tyre was an island seaport just off the Mediterranean coast north of Israel. Tyre depended on Israel for food, and Israel depended on Tyre for building materials and skilled craftsmen. These craftsmen built a palace for David17 and would later help build the temple in Jerusalem during Solomon’s reign.
13–16 These verses list eleven sons of David born to him after he began living in Jerusalem.18 These were in addition to the sons born to him in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:2–5). The first four sons listed here (verse 14) were born to David’s wife Bathsheba (1 Chronicles 3:5), whom we shall learn more about in 2 Samuel Chapter 11. Also, in 1 Chronicles 3:9, a daughter Tamar is mentioned (see 2 Samuel 13:122). In addition, David had concubines who bore him other children whose names we do not know. Certainly David was not pleasing God by taking so many wives and concubines (Deuteronomy 17:17).
David Defeats the Philistines (5:17–25)
(1 Chronicles 14:8–17)
17–21 During the seven years David ruled in Hebron, the Philistines had not worried about him; their interests were mainly in the northern part of Israel. But once David became king over all Israel, the Philistines realized that he would become a threat to them. So they came out to search for David. This probably happened before David captured Jerusalem, because when David heard about it, he went down to the desert stronghold where he had stayed during Saul’s time (1 Samuel 22:4).
David, as was his custom, inquired of the Lord before taking action (see 1 Samuel 23:1–6 and comment). The Lord said, “Go,” and promised David that He would hand the Philistines over to him (verse 19)—which He did. The site of the battle was called Baal Perazim, because there the (verses 22–23). This time the Lord gave Lord had broken out against David’s enemies19 (verse 20). As always, David attributed his victory to the Lord. The Philistines were in such a panic that they left their idols on the battlefield—idols they had brought with them to ensure their victory! The Israelites carried them off, and David gave orders to burn them (1 Chronicles 14:12).
22–25 Once again the Philistines gathered to attack David and his men, and once again David inquired of the LORD (verses 22–23). This time the Lord gave David a special plan of attack. The Lord doesn’t always give us exact copies of His previous plans; like David, we must always be ready for something new. This time the Lord told David to wait for the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees,20 which would be the signal for him to attack. David followed the Lord’s instructions and defeated the Philistines, and the Philistines never threatened Israel again.