2 Samuel 5
David King over All IsraelIn this section, all the tribes of Israel come together to make David their king. For a long time, only the tribe of Judah had accepted David as king, but now the whole nation is united. The people recognize David’s leadership, his past service, and most importantly, God’s choice of him. This moment ends a long period of division and civil war in Israel. David’s rise to the throne is gradual, showing both his patience and God’s plan for him. His reign points forward to the kingdom of the Messiah, which also grows step by step.v. 1: The tribes of Israel come to David and ask him to be their king. They say, We are your bone and your flesh . This means they see David as one of their own, not a stranger. They trust that David will care for them like a person cares for their own body. They hope he will end the civil war and protect them. This is similar to how Christians can come to Christ and say, We are your bone and your flesh, because Jesus became like us in every way (Hebrews 2:17 a). v. 2: The people remember how David led them in battle even when Saul was king. They say, You were the one who led Israel out and brought them in . David had already shown he could be a good leader. When someone is faithful in small things, they can be trusted with bigger things. The people also remember that the Lord said, You shall shepherd my people Israel. A good king is like a shepherd who cares for his sheep, not just someone who rules over them. David is also called to be a captain, leading the people in war when needed. v. 3: All the elders of Israel meet David at Hebron. They make a covenant with him before the Lord. David promises to protect and lead them, and the people promise to obey him. David is anointed king for the third time. His journey to the throne has been slow, but this has helped him grow in faith and experience. This gradual rise is like the kingdom of Christ, which also grows over time. As the Bible says, We do not yet see everything in subjection to him (Hebrews 2:8 b), but one day we will (1 Corinthians 15:25 c). v. 4: David is thirty years old when he becomes king after Saul’s death . This is the same age when the Levites started their work in the temple (Numbers 4:3 d), and when Jesus began his ministry (Luke 3:23 e). At this age, people are mature and ready for responsibility. v. 5: David rules for forty years and six months—seven and a half years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem . Hebron was already an important city, but Jerusalem would become even more famous as the holy city. Many great kings built new cities, and David made Jerusalem his own. The name “Jerusalem” is important throughout the Bible, and in the end, we read about the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21 f). David Takes Mount SionThis section tells how David captured Jerusalem, also called Zion, from the Jebusites. Jerusalem was an old and important city, mentioned since the days of Abraham and Melchizedek (Psalm 76:2 g). It was in the land given to Benjamin (Joshua 18:28 h), but close to Judah. Even though the people of Judah once captured it (Judges 1:8 i), the Jebusites continued to live there (Judges 1:21 j). David could only try to take Jerusalem after all the tribes, especially Benjamin, accepted him as king. Taking Jerusalem was David’s first big action as king over all Israel. It would soon become the capital city.v. 6: The Jebusites, who lived in Jerusalem, mocked David and his army. They said, Except you remove the blind and the lame, you will not come in here . The Jebusites felt very safe in their city. They trusted either in their gods, which David called the blind and the lame because they could not see or walk (Psalm 115:5-7 k), or in their strong walls, thinking even weak people could defend them. They may have put actual blind and lame people on the walls to insult David and his men. The Jebusites were very confident, but this was just before they would be defeated. People who oppose God’s people are often most confident right before they fall (Jeremiah 37:10 l). v. 7: David did not let the Jebusites’ pride stop him. He attacked and captured the stronghold of Zion, which became known as the City of David . This was a great victory and a turning point in Israel’s history. v. 8: David told his men, Whoever attacks the Jebusites, let him reach the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind’ who are hated by David's soul . The Jebusites had mocked David by trusting in their idols and possibly in their weak defenders. David wanted these false gods and mocking defenders removed from the city forever. After this victory, people said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. This meant the useless idols would not be respected in Jerusalem anymore. v. 9: David moved into the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the city around it, from the stronghold inward to the Millo, which became the central part of the city (2 Samuel 5:9 m). David became greater and stronger because the Lord God of hosts was with him. God helped David to succeed and protected him. When someone becomes great, they should remember it is because of God’s help. The church is often called Zion, the city of the living God. Just as David removed the enemies from Zion, Jesus removes all that is evil from his people and makes his home with them. – David's ChildrenThis section describes how David's reign became more secure and prosperous. It tells how his palace was built, how his kingdom was established, and how his family grew. The passage shows that God was with David, blessing him for the sake of Israel, not just for David himself. It also mentions David's many wives and children, but does not praise him for this.v. 11: Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent messengers and skilled workers to David, along with cedar wood, to help build David a royal palace. The people of Israel were mostly farmers and shepherds, so they did not have many skilled builders. Hiram’s help was a generous gift to honor David as king. David accepted this help, and the palace was built just as he wanted. Even though the builders were not Israelites, the house was still suitable to dedicate to God. This is like the prophecy, The sons of the strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee (Isaiah 60:10 n). v. 12: David’s kingdom became strong and secure. No one could challenge his right to rule. God made David king and kept him in power, because David was a picture of Christ, whose kingdom is also established by God. Saul was made king, but his kingdom was not secure. David’s kingdom was different, just as Jesus, the Son of David, is made king forever, and those who believe in him are made kings and priests (Psalm 89:21-28 o). David’s rule was respected by both friends and enemies. Israel became greater than ever before. This points to Christ, who is higher than the kings of the earth (Psalm 89:27 p), and whom God has highly exalted (Philippians 2:9 q). David realized that God was with him because of all the good things happening. Like the psalm says, By this I know that thou favourest me (Psalm 41:11 r). David also understood that God blessed him for the sake of Israel, so he could lead and protect the people. God did not make Israel serve David for his own benefit, but made David king for the good of the people. Kings are supposed to be ministers of God to their people for good (Romans 13:4 s). v. 13: David’s family grew larger after he moved to Jerusalem. The passage lists eleven sons born to him there, in addition to the six sons born earlier in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:2,5 t). Here, the mothers are not named, but it says David took more wives and concubines. The Bible does not praise David for this, nor does it excuse him. He may have thought it was acceptable because of the example of the patriarchs, or because it would make his family stronger. But having many wives did not keep David from later sinning with another man’s wife. When someone breaks God’s rules, it is easy to keep going further away. For more about David’s concubines, see 2 Samuel 15:16; 16:22; 19:5 u. For a list of his sons, see 1 Chronicles 3:1-9 v. – – – David Defeats the PhilistinesThis section tells how David, who was chosen to save Israel from the Philistines, wins two important battles against them. These victories help restore Israel's honor after Saul's defeat and show God's power and guidance in David's leadership. The Philistines attack first, but David relies on God, prays before each battle, and gives God the glory for every victory. The story also shows how obeying God brings success.v. 17: The Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel. They came up to fight him, hoping to destroy his rule before it became strong. Their earlier victory over Saul may have given them confidence, but they did not realize that God was now with David. This is like when God’s kingdom is attacked by evil forces, but they always fail in the end (Psalm 2:1-12 w). The enemies of God can make plans together, but they will be broken in pieces (Isaiah 8:9-10 x).v. 17-19: When David heard about the Philistines, he went to a strong place for safety. But before he acted, he asked God what to do. He wanted to know if he should fight and if God would give him victory. Even though it was his job to protect Israel, David did not trust only in himself. He wanted God’s direction and blessing. Sometimes, he remembered that some Philistines, like Achish, had been kind to him, but God told him to fight because they were enemies of Israel. God promised that David would win. This shows that if God sends us, he will help us. David did not depend on his army but on God’s promise. – – v. 20-21: In the first battle, David defeated the Philistines by God’s power. David praised God, saying, The Lord has broken forth upon my enemies before me (2 Samuel 5:20 y). He gave God all the credit, saying the victory was like water breaking through a dam. To remember this, he named the place Baal-perazim, which means “the master of the breaches.” The Philistines brought their idols to the battle, but when they lost, they left their gods behind. David and his men burned these idols as God had commanded (Deuteronomy 7:5 z). This shows that idols are useless and cannot save anyone (Isaiah 2:20-21 aa). – v. 22: After being defeated once, the Philistines attacked again, hoping to win back what they lost. Their hearts were stubborn and this led to their destruction. Both times, they camped in the valley of Rephaim near Jerusalem, hoping to capture the city before David finished making it strong. Their large army seemed powerful, but the more they spread out, the easier it was for God to defeat them. This is like when the enemies of the church went up on the breadth of the earth (Revelation 20:9 ab). v. 23-24: In the second battle, God told David not to attack directly, but to circle behind the Philistines. God said David would hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees. This sound was a sign that God and his angels were fighting for Israel. David waited for this sign and then attacked. This teaches us to wait for God’s direction and trust his timing. – v. 25: David obeyed and waited until God moved. When he heard the sound, he attacked and won. God kept his promise and defeated all the Philistines, even to the edge of their land. David learned to depend on God and act when God called him. This is like when the apostles waited for the Holy Spirit, who came with a sound from heaven before they began their work (Acts 2:2 ac). When God moves, we must be ready to act and work with him (Philippians 2:12-13 ad).
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