II Samuel Chapter
5
Memory verses for this
week:
Lev
27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the
land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto
the LORD.
Overview of II Samuel 5:
In this chapter, the narrative of David’s accession continues. All
twelves tribes of Israel united behind him as king, Jerusalem is
made the national capitol, and details of the children born to David
in Jerusalem are also noted. Finally, record is made of another war
with the Philistines. Of special note is David’s repeated inquiry of
the Lord as to how to respond to the Philistine aggression.
I. David
Becomes King over Israel
2 Sam 5:1
Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake,
saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
2 Sam 5:2
Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that
leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee,
Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over
Israel.
2 Sam 5:3
So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king
David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they
anointed David king over Israel.
Word quickly
spread across the land how that David grieved over the death of
Ishbosheth and of his swift justice against his murderers. The
leadership of the tribes of the nation perceived that God’s hand was
upon David. As an Israelite, David was one of them. Even when Saul
was king, all knew that it was David who was the real leader.
The leaders
of the tribes were mindful of God’s choosing of David to be king
when Samuel was alive. In verse 3 the word translated as
league
(tyrb
berith)
is most commonly otherwise translated as ‘covenant.’ Also of special
interest is the word translated as
anointed
(xvm
mashach).
It is whence the word Messiah (mashiyach)
and literally means ‘the Anointed One.’ Jesus Christ was born of the
house and lineage of David. He is of David’s royal descent as King
of Israel.
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and
the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall
be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order
it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from
henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform
this.
In modern
terms, a king is ‘coronated’ into office. Presidents are
inaugurated. However, God’s means of installing a king was to anoint
him with sacred anointing oil. The oil was similar if not identical
to the holy anointing oil prescribed in Exodus 25. It was made of an
olive oil base and seasoned with sweet spices so that it was more of
a perfume. This most likely is a foreshadow of the spiritual
anointing of the Holy Spirit upon God’s chosen. Thus, David was
anointed king over all of Israel.
We have
record of the Israelite leaders choosing David to be king in 1
Chronicles Chapter 11.
1 Chr
11:1 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron,
saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
1 Chr
11:2 And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast
he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God
said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be
ruler over my people Israel.
1 Chr
11:3 Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron;
and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and
they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the
LORD by Samuel.
2 Sam 5:4
David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned
forty years.
Detailed
here in verse 4 are chronological details of David’s reign. Some
have noted that David provided a typification of Jesus in that Jesus
began His public ministry at age thirty. Also, it appears that David
was between thirty-seven and thirty-eight years old when he became
king over all of Israel. According to I Kings 2:11, he reigned a
total of forty years and he died at age seventy.
1 Ki 2:11
And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven
years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in
Jerusalem.
When Jesus
began his teaching at the age of 30, many around him recognized that
he was no ordinary teacher.
Mark 1:14
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee,
preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Mark 1:15
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at
hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark 1:16
Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his
brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
Mark 1:17
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to
become fishers of men.
Mark 1:18
And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
Mark 1:19
And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son
of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending
their nets.
Mark 1:20
And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee
in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
Mark 1:21
And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he
entered into the synagogue, and taught.
Mark 1:22
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one
that had authority, and not as the scribes.
II.
Jerusalem made Capital of the United Kingdom of Israel
2 Sam 5:5
In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in
Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and
Judah.
2 Sam 5:6
And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the
inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou
take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither:
thinking, David cannot come in hither.
2 Sam 5:7
Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the
city of David.
2 Sam 5:8
And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and
smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of
David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said,
The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.
Jerusalem
had never been completely occupied. It originally had been the city
of the Jebusites, a Canaanite tribe. Jebusites still controlled a
significant portion of the city even in David’s day. Therefore, the
king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the
inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou
take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither:
thinking, David cannot come in hither.
The city of
Jerusalem has always been perched atop high rugged hills (low
mountains). It was quite defensible militarily. That likely is why
Israel had never completely driven out the Jebusites.
Moreover,
the high position of the city caused the Jebusites to become
arrogant.
They taunted
David, noting that even their blind and crippled could prevent him
from taking the city. Nevertheless David took the strong hold of
Zion: the same is the city of David. It may have been a city well
placed for defense, but David conquered the city. Zion initially was
a stronghold on the northeast edge of Jerusalem perched atop one of
the hills thereof. The name of Zion later became synonymous for
Jerusalem itself.
In that same
area of east Jerusalem, David eventually built a palace and made it
his home. In verse 8, further details of the assault are given. The
word translated as
gutter
(rwnu
tsinnuwr)
refers not to a way of waste water, but of fresh water. It has the
sense of a conduit or pipe. In the vicinity of the City of David in
east Jerusalem is a deep shaft down to a subterranean water source.
The ancient
Jebusites had so dug the shaft to provide water during times of
military assault. David was aware of this and offered the reward of
leadership for any of his men who would so ascend that dark shaft up
the mountain. ( I Chronicles 11)
1 Chr
11:4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus;
where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.
1 Chr
11:5 And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come
hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the
city of David.
1 Chr
11:6 And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be
chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was
chief.
1 Chr
11:7 And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the
city of David.
In recent
times, an archaeologist by the name of Warren discovered this shaft
and it today is known as ‘Warren’s Shaft.’ The Jebusites thought
they were secure in their stronghold of Zion, thinking their water
supply and shaft were unknown to David. He rather covertly sent men
up it who then attacked the city from within. David instructed his
men to particularly slay the lame and the blind in the city. The
Jebusites had taunted David intimating even their lame and blind
could withstand him. These had despised and jeered David.
He taught
them a lesson and threw them out of Jerusalem for ever. As a result
a proverb was developed to the effect, “The blind and the lame shall
not come into the house.”
2 Sam 5:9
So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And
David built round about from Millo and inward.
2 Sam
5:10 And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts
was with him.
2 Sam
5:11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar
trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
David
thereafter made Jerusalem his capitol. “So
David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David
built round about from Millo and inward.”
The word
Millo
literally means ‘fortifications’ and evidently refers to a fortified
wall or rampart separating the City of David and the upper city
above on Mount Zion. The greater idea is that David developed this
section of Jerusalem.
It would
be similar to him building a subdivision there. The topography
of the City of David is that of high ridge rising up out of the
Valley of Kidron to the east and the Tyropean Valley immediately
to its west. Ruins of the City of David exist there to this day.
Verse 10
indicates how the character of the full reign of David now
blossoms. “And
David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts
was
with
him.”
No longer was he a refugee or fugitive as in the days when he
was hunted and haunted by King Saul, living in mountain caves
and just trying to survive day to day. No longer was he the
chieftain of just one tribe of Israel. He was now the king of
God’s people altogether. The hand of Jehovah God was upon him
and in so doing, David became great.
Even the
king of Lebanon in Tyre, Hiram, took note of God’s blessing upon
David. “And
Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees,
and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.”
In I Kings 5:1, Hiram was called “ever a lover of David.”
1 Ki
5:1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for
he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his
father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.
Precisely how or why Hiram became a friend to David is not
noted. It may have been that he wisely sought to make friends
with whom he perceived to be a powerful neighbor. As a just and
wise ruler, David well may have left a positive impression upon
Hiram. Or, it may simply be that God providentially put it in
the heart of Hiram to befriend David. Lebanon of that day was a
nation of renowned craftsmen in the building trades. David
evidently had made known to Hiram his desire to build a new
palace at Jerusalem.
Therefore, Hiram offered not only top-of-the-line building
materials in cedar lumber, but also the craftsmen (carpenters
and masons) to build the palace for David. That palace was
called a “house of cedar” in II Samuel 7:2. Whether the house
was completely built or only trimmed with cedar is not clear.
However, it must have been beautiful. It likely was atop the
ridge of the City of David to catch the breezes from whichever
direction they were blowing.
III.
Children of David Born in Jerusalem
2 Sam
5:12 And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over
Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's
sake.
2 Sam
5:13 And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem,
after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters
born to David.
2 Sam
5:14 And these be the names of those that were born unto him in
Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
2 Sam
5:15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
2 Sam
5:16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
As David
increased the stability of his reign, he perceived that God had
established him as king. Moreover, as he realized the growing
prosperity of his kingdom, he understood that God was blessing his
kingdom for his people’s sake. Clear is the blessing of God upon a
righteous, Godly leader.
“And
David took
him
more concubines
and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there
were yet sons and daughters born to David.”
It should be
noted that monogamy has always been God’s perfect will. Polygamy was
tolerated and regulated by the Old Testament Law. Though allowed by
God, it never has been His perfect will. It often led to conflict
and rivalry within a family. Abraham suffered in his life due to
strife between his wife and a concubine which had been Sarah's maid.
Gen 16:4
And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that
she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
Gen 16:5
And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my
maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was
despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.
Gen 16:6
But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to
her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she
fled from her face.
The word
translated as
concubines
(vglyp
piylegesh)
does not relate to any social custom in modern western culture. It
reflected a relationship less than full marriage. As an eastern man
was able to afford to support additional lovers, concubines were
allowed as women of his harem. Though intimate with their husband,
they did not enjoy the full status of wives. (V-14-16) The sacred
historian records the children born to these additional wives and
concubines of David. Noteworthy of these, of course, was Solomon. I
Chronicles 5:3 notes that the first four of these were born to
Bathsheba. Additional children are noted in I Chronicles 3:6-8.
J. Vernon
McGee commented about David's concubines.
That is the record of
the facts. God did not put his stamp of approval upon what David
did. We will find that God definitely disapproves of polygamy. In
David’s son Solomon it resulted in the splitting of the kingdom and
finally brought on the Babylonian captivity. Why? Because David and
Solomon were kings and in places of leadership. Their actions were
wrong. Who says they were wrong? God says they were wrong! After
all, it is His universe, and He makes the rules. Although you may
not like them, God’s rules are good. God not only created us, but He
laid down rules and regulations for our lives which would bring to
the human family the ultimate in happiness and blessing.
IV. War
with the Philistines.
2 Sam
5:17 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David
king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and
David heard of it, and went down to the hold.
2 Sam
5:18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley
of Rephaim.
Word reached
Philistia of David becoming king over all of Israel. In reaction
thereto, the Philistine nation determined to test David’s mettle and
invaded Israel with the intent of war. Upon hearing of the invasion,
David went down to the
hold.
The hold literally means ‘fortress,’ ‘stronghold,’ or ‘castle.’ It
may be that the hold mentioned was a generic fortified place near
Jerusalem. It is also conceivable that David resorted to the south
the impregnable stronghold at Masada.
However, the
geography of the battle soon to follow seems to indicate that the
hold
was in
relative close proximity to Jerusalem. The Philistines also came and
spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. The valley of Rephaim
opens to the southwest only about five miles from Jerusalem. There
they made camp.
2 Sam
5:19 And David inquired 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.
2 Sam
5:20 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.
2 Sam
5:21 And there they left their images, and David and his men burned
them.
Notwithstanding that his kingdom had been invaded by hostile forces,
David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the
Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand?
In an hour
of crisis when the answer seemed obvious, David first sought God’s
face in the matter. He likely availed himself of the Urim and
Thummin available for the leadership of Israel. In simple terms
terminology, he prayed about the matter. Simply, he asked God what
he should do.
God answered
directly. “And
the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the
Philistines into thine hand.”
David clearly had not leaned upon his own under-standing. Though it
would seem obvious that he ought to fight against invaders, before
he moved militarily, he first sought God’s counsel. God made it
clear to him to proceed, promising victory.
In verse 20,
it records that David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them
there. The place, Baalperazim, was only about two miles to the
southwest of Jerusalem. It is clear that the Philistines had made a
deep incursion into Israel.
The word
Baalperazim
literally
means ‘Lord of the breach’ or ‘Lord of the break.’
Embedded
here is that God allowed David to break through the Philistine lines
like a great flood of water. The Philistines were routed to such a
degree that they left behind their idols. These David directed his
forces to burn on the spot.
2 Sam
5:22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in
the valley of Rephaim.
2 Sam
5:23 And when David inquired 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.
2 Sam
5:24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the
tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for
then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the
Philistines.
2 Sam
5:25 And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the
Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.
One would
think that the Philistines had learned their lesson. But not long
thereafter, they invaded Israel once again returning to the valley
of Rephaim to the southwest of Jerusalem. “And
the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the
valley of Rephaim.”
It may be
that they thought that they had a better strategy. Josephus records
that they returned with an army three times larger than before. In
any event, they thought that this time they would prevail over
David. Once again, David sought God’s guidance for the crisis at
hand. This time God gave David different instructions.
The natural
human response would be to go out and defeat them like the last
time. However, David had the godly wisdom to seek God’s face again.
It may be that he sensed the Philistines had something new up their
sleeve. Or, it simply may be that he received intelligence reports
indicating they had returned with overwhelming military force. In
any event, God instructed him to circle behind them to a grove of
mulberry trees.
A now
classic military tactic, David flanked the Philistine forces. In
lying in wait behind the mulberry woods, David was to wait for the
sound of the wind rustling in the tops of the trees. God directed
him to then attack through the woods and to the rear of the
Philistines upon hearing the wind. It may be that the Philistines
became impatient in waiting for David to come out to battle and
began to move against Jerusalem. Not anticipating an attack from the
rear, God directed David to do precisely so when they least expected
it.
Accordingly,
David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the
Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer. The Philistines fled
to the north and then the west with David in hot pursuit through
Geba (Gibeah) all the way to Gazer. Gazer was the beginning of the
coastal plain whence the Philistines came.
We learn
from this study that those who have the Lord of Hosts for them need
not fear what men or demons can do against them. If we win many
victories and become great in the sight of men we should always
ascribe our advancement to Gods favor with us.
God is ever present to take
care of his own. We are bought with a price and should glorify
Christ by our lives.
Col 1:15
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every
creature:
Col 1:16
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are
in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by
him, and for him:
Col 1:17
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the
preeminence.
Col 1:19
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Col 1:20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to
reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be
things in earth, or things in heaven.
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Prov 4:18
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Practice
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