2 Samuel 5:19

19 Then David prayed to God: "Shall I go up and fight the Philistines? Will you help me beat them?"

2 Samuel 5:19 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 5:19

And David inquired of the Lord
By Abiathar, and the Urim and Thummim, in the ephod he had on:

saying, shall I go up to the Philistines?
who by this time were gone from the valley to an higher place, to Mount Perazim, as in ( Isaiah 28:21 ) ;

wilt thou deliver them into my hand?
here two questions are put together, and an answer returned to both, contrary to a notion of the Jews, (See Gill on 1 Samuel 23:11);

and the Lord said to David, go up, for I will doubtless deliver the
Philistines into thine hand;
by which oracle he had both the mind of God that he should go up, and was assured of victory.

2 Samuel 5:19 In-Context

17 When the Philistines got word that David had been made king over all Israel, they came on the hunt for him. David heard of it and went down to the stronghold.

18 When the Philistines arrived, they deployed their forces in Raphaim Valley.

19 Then David prayed to God: "Shall I go up and fight the Philistines? Will you help me beat them?"

20 "Go up," God replied. "Count on me. I'll help you beat them."

21 The retreating Philistines dumped their idols, and David and his soldiers took them away.