2 Samuel 5 KJV
David King Over All Israel
2 Samuel Chapter 5: David King Over All Israel
The capture of Jerusalem marks the first explicit biblical identification of Zion as the stronghold of the Jebusites, establishing it as the future site of both royal and divine presence in a way that bridges Canaanite topography with Israelite covenant theology.
1hen came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
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.
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.
4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
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.
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.
7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
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 Davidโs soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.
9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
10 And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.
11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
12 And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israelโs sake.
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.
14 And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
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.
18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
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.
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.
25 And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.
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Did You Know?
The capture of Jerusalem marks the first explicit biblical identification of Zion as the stronghold of the Jebusites, establishing it as the future site of both royal and divine presence in a way that bridges Canaanite topography with Israelite covenant theology.
David's command to dispose of the Jebusite 'lame and blind' defenders echoes Leviticus 21's exclusionary rules for the sanctuary, transforming a military taunt into a symbolic act of ritual purification for the new capital.
Hiram of Tyre's provision of cedar, carpenters, and masons for David's palace initiates a long-term Phoenician alliance that supplies both material resources and architectural expertise, prefiguring the later construction of Solomon's temple.
The two Philistine campaigns are distinguished by distinct divine oracles: the first permits immediate attack at Baal-perazim while the second requires waiting for the sound of marching in the mulberry trees, illustrating a nuanced theology of timing and dependence on prophetic discernment rather than blanket permission.
The sudden multiplication of David's sons in Jerusalem, including the naming of Nathan alongside Solomon, quietly foreshadows the later prophetic and royal tensions that will shape the Davidic dynasty's internal conflicts.
Commentary & Study Notes Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871) ยท Public Domain Then came all the tribes of Israel โ a combined deputation of the leading authorities in every tribe. [See on 1Ch 11:1.] David possessed the first and indispensable qualification fโฆ
Classic verse-by-verse commentary on 2 Samuel 5 from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (1871). Covers: The tribes anoint David king over Israel; He takes Zion from the jebusites; Eleven sons born to him; He smites the philistines.
- 1,2
- Then came all the tribes of Israel โ 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 โ (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.
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