2 Samuel 5:21

21 And there they left their images, 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.

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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 And David enquired of the LORD, saying , Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up : for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

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

21 And there they left their images, 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 fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

Footnotes

• [a]. burned...: or, took them away