2 SamuelChapter 5

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Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Here we are—we are your own flesh and blood.

"Even before now, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and brought them home. And the LORD said to you, 'You shall shepherd my people Israel, and you shall be ruler over Israel.'"

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel.

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.

In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

The king and his men marched on Jerusalem against the Jebusites who lived there. They said to David, "You will never get in here. Even the blind and the lame could drive you off"—meaning, "David will never get in here."

But David captured the stronghold of Zion—that is, the City of David.

That day David said, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites must go up through the water shaft to reach the lame and the blind, those whom David hates." That is why they say, "The blind and the lame shall not enter the house."

David took up residence in the stronghold and called it the City of David, and he built up the area around it, from the Millo inward.

And David went on and grew greater and greater, for the LORD God of hosts was with him.

Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.

Then David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

After he came from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all came up to search for him; and when David heard of it, he went down to the stronghold.

The Philistines came and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

So David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" The LORD answered him, "Go up, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand."

So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there. He said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like a bursting flood." That is why he named that place Baal-perazim.

The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.

Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

So David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, "Do not go straight up. Circle around behind them and attack them opposite the balsam trees.

As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, for then the LORD has gone out ahead of you to strike the camp of the Philistines."

David did as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.

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Summary2

Chapter 5

Main Theme: David is anointed king over all Israel, conquers Jerusalem, and defeats the Philistines with God's help.

Content: All the tribes of Israel come to David in Hebron and acknowledge him as their leader. The elders make a covenant with him before the Lord, and David is anointed king over all Israel. He captures Jerusalem from the Jebusites and makes the fortress of Zion his capital, the City of David, where King Hiram of Tyre builds him a palace. The Philistines attack twice, but David seeks the Lord's guidance and wins both battles.

Key Words/Images:

City of David (עִיר דָּוִד): Jerusalem/the fortress of Zion that David captured and made his capital and center of power.
Anointing (מָשַׁח): The ritual act by which the elders confirmed David as God's chosen king over all Israel.
Baal-perazim (בַּעַל פְּרָצִים): "Lord of Breakthroughs" – the place where the Lord broke through the enemies like a flood.
Seeking the Lord (שָׁאַל בַּיהוָה): David's practice of asking God before taking action, which secured victory in both battles against the Philistines.

Historical context

Historical and Cultural Context for 2 Samuel 5

People

Jebusites were the Canaanite group that controlled Jerusalem before David's conquest. They had held the city since before the Israelites entered the land, and Jerusalem is mentioned as a Jebusite city already in Judges 1:21. Their mockery of David—that even "the blind and the lame" could drive him away—reflected their confidence in the city's natural defenses on the height of Zion.

Hiram of Tyre (חִירָם מֶֽלֶךְ־צֹר) was king over the Phoenician city-state of Tyre. His sending of craftsmen and cedar trees to David marked the beginning of a long-lasting diplomatic and commercial relationship between Israel and Phoenicia that continued into Solomon's time. The Phoenicians were known throughout the Mediterranean region for their expertise in timber work and stone masonry.

Places

Jerusalem (also called Jebus) was strategically located on a hill between Judah to the south and the northern tribes, making it an ideal choice as capital of the united kingdom. The city did not belong to any of Israel's tribes, which made it a neutral capital. "The fortress of Zion" (מְצֻדַת צִיּוֹן) refers to the fortified core of the original city on the southeastern hill.

Valley of Rephaim (עֵמֶק רְפָאִים) was a fertile valley southwest of Jerusalem that formed a natural approach route from the Philistine coastal plain up into the hill country. The name likely refers to the legendary "Rephaim" giants who, according to tradition, had lived in the area. The valley was of great strategic importance as it provided access to the Judean highlands.

Events and Customs

The Covenant at Hebron (verse 3) followed ancient Near Eastern custom where a king formally entered into a mutually binding agreement with the people. The expression "made a covenant" (וַיִּכְרֹת בְּרִית) refers to the ritual in which animals were cut in two, and the parties walked between the pieces. That the covenant was made "before the Lord" gave it religious sanction and made God both witness and guarantor.

The anointing of David as king over all Israel was his third anointing—first by Samuel (1 Sam 16), then by Judah (2 Sam 2:4), and now by all the tribes. Multiple anointings were not unusual when a king expanded his rule. The oil symbolized God's Spirit and divine selection.

Key Terms

Millo (הַמִּלּוֹא) means "the filling" and likely refers to a fill project or terrace construction that strengthened the city's defenses and expanded buildable area on the steep hill. This became an ongoing building project through several generations.

Tsinnor (צִנּוֹר) in verse 8 is a disputed word, traditionally translated "water shaft" or "tunnel." It may refer to the water system that provided access to the city, possibly what later came to be called Warren's Shaft.

Baka trees (בְּכָאִים) in verses 23-24 are difficult to identify with certainty but were likely a type of balsam or mulberry tree. The sound of "a marching in the tops of the baka trees" (ק֧וֹל צְעָדָ֛ה בְּרָאשֵׁ֥י הַבְּכָאִ֖ים) was interpreted as a sign of God's invisible army advancing.

Chapter-Specific Findings

Archaeological excavations in Jerusalem have uncovered what is called "the Stepped Stone Structure" on the southeastern hill, a massive terrace construction that may be remains of David's fortifications or the Millo. Controversy surrounds its dating, but several scholars link parts of the structure to the 10th century BC. In addition, water systems have been found, including Warren's Shaft, which may shed light on how David captured the city.

People14

David16 Japhia1 Hebron1 Elidad1 Solomon1 Elishua1 Elishama1 Shammua (son of Zaccur, spy from the tribe of Reuben)1 Jibhar1 Saul1 Nathan1 Eliphelet1 Nepheg1 Jacob3

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Key words9

David — The second king of Israel, who succeeded King Saul and united the twelve tribes.
Jerusalem — A city in the Middle East, also known as Zion, which David made the capital of his kingdom.
Fortress — A fortified structure or building used for defense and protection.
Hiram — The king of Tyre, who helped David build his palace by sending materials and craftsmen.
Philistines — A people who lived in Canaan and were enemies of the Israelites. David defeated them several times.
Baalzebub — A name for a fortress in Jerusalem, meaning "shame of Baal." David captured it from the Jebusites.
Jebusites — The inhabitants of Jerusalem before David conquered the city. They belonged to one of the Canaanite tribes.
God — The Almighty Creator who, according to Genesis, created heaven, earth, and all life.
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