2 Samuel 5

2Sa 5:1-5.

THE

TRIBES

ANOINT

DAVID

KING OVER

ISRAEL.

1, 2. Then came all the tribes of Israel--a combined deputation of the

leading authorities in every tribe.

[See on

1Ch 11:1.]

David possessed the first and indispensable qualification for the

throne; namely, that of being an Israelite

(De 17:15).

Of his military talent he had furnished ample proof. And the people's

desire for his assumption of the government of Israel was further

increased by their knowledge of the will and purpose of God, as

declared by Samuel

(1Sa 16:11-13).

3. King David made a league with them in Hebron before the

Lord--(see on

1Sa 10:17).

This formal declaration of the constitution was chiefly made at the

commencement of a new dynasty, or at the restoration of the royal

family after a usurpation

(2Ki 11:17),

though circumstances sometimes led to its being renewed on the accession

of any new sovereign

(1Ki 12:4).

It seems to have been accompanied by religious solemnities.

2Sa 5:6-12.

HE

TAKES

ZION FROM THE

JEBUSITES.

6. the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites--The first

expedition of David, as king of the whole country, was directed against

this place, which had hitherto remained in the hands of the natives. It

was strongly fortified and deemed so impregnable that the blind and

lame were sent to man the battlements, in derisive mockery of the

Hebrew king's attack, and to shout, "David cannot come in hither." To

understand the full meaning and force of this insulting taunt, it is

necessary to bear in mind the depth and steepness of the valley of

Gihon, and the lofty walls of the ancient Canaanitish fortress.

7. the stronghold of Zion--Whether Zion be the southwestern hill

commonly so-called, or the peak now level on the north of the temple

mount, it is the towering height which catches the eye from every

quarter--"the hill fort," "the rocky hold" of Jerusalem.

8. Whosoever getteth up to the gutter--This is thought by some to

mean a subterranean passage; by others a spout through which water was

poured upon the fire which the besiegers often applied to the woodwork

at the gateways, and by the projections of which a skilful climber

might make his ascent good; a third class render the words, "whosoever

dasheth them against the precipice"

(1Ch 11:6).

9. David dwelt in the fort, &c.--Having taken it by storm, he changed

its name to "the city of David," to signify the importance of the

conquest, and to perpetuate the memory of the event.

David built round about from Millo and inward--probably a row of stone

bastions placed on the northern side of Mount Zion, and built by David

to secure himself on that side from the Jebusites, who still lived in

the lower part of the city. The house of Millo was perhaps the

principal corner tower of that fortified wall.

11, 12. Hiram . . . sent carpenters, and masons--The influx of Tyrian

architects and mechanics affords a clear evidence of the low state to

which, through the disorders of long-continued war, the better class of

artisans had declined in Israel.

2Sa 5:13-16.

ELEVEN

SONS

BORN TO

HIM.

13. David took him more concubines and wives--In this conduct David

transgressed an express law, which forbade the king of Israel to

multiply wives unto himself

(De 17:17).

2Sa 5:17-25.

HE

SMITES THE

PHILISTINES.

17. when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over

Israel--During the civil war between the house of Saul and David, those

restless neighbors had remained quiet spectators of the contest. But

now, jealous of David, they resolved to attack him before his

government was fully established.

18. valley of Rephaim--that is, "of giants," a broad and fertile plain,

which descends gradually from the central mountains towards the

northwest. It was the route by which they marched against Jerusalem.

The "hold" to which David went down "was some fortified place where he

might oppose the progress of the invaders," and where he signally

defeated them.

21. there they left their images--probably their "lares" or household

deities, which they had brought into the field to fight for them. They

were burnt as ordained by law

(De 7:5).

22. the Philistines came up yet again--The next year they renewed

their hostile attempt with a larger force, but God manifestly

interposed in David's favor.

24. the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees--now

generally thought not to be mulberry trees, but some other tree, most

probably the poplar, which delights in moist situations, and the leaves

of which are rustled by the slightest movement of the air

[ROYLE].