2 Samuel 5:21

21 And they left their images there, and David and his men burned them.

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 enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up, for I without a doubt will deliver the Philistines into thy hand.

20 And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there and said, The LORD has broken forth upon my enemies before me as the breach of waters. Therefore, he called the name of that place Baalperazim.

21 And they left their images there, and David and his men burned them.

22 And the Philistines came up yet again and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

23 And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up, but go around behind them and come upon them over against the mulberry trees,