Chapter Five

David’s coronation over all Israel. The conquest of the stronghold of Zion. The building of the king’s house. Two defeats of the Philistines.

2 Samuel 5:1. And all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh; About five years passed from the death of Ish-bosheth to David’s election as king over all the Hebrews (2 Sam 2:10-11).

2 Samuel 5:2. Moreover, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and the Lord said to you, ‘You shall feed my people Israel, and you shall be a prince over Israel.’ “Moreover, in time past,” that is, generally in former times. “You were the one who led out and brought in Israel,” that is, commanded the Israeli forces during battles with the enemy. “And the Lord said to you....” See (1 Sam 16:12-13; 2 Sam 3:18).

2 Samuel 5:3. And all the elders of Israel came to the king in Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel. “And they anointed David king.” “David received royal anointing from Samuel. Chronicles, however, calls by the name of anointings also his twofold election by the people” (Blessed Theodoret, Commentary on 2 Samuel, question 15).

2 Samuel 5:6. And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of that land; but they said to David, “You will not come in here, for the blind and the lame will turn you away”—this meant, “David will not come in here. The Jebusite city of Jerusalem, located on the height of Zion with its fortress of the same name, was a stronghold difficult to access. The existence of an independent Canaanite region, wedged in between the northern and southern parts of Canaan, was incompatible with the interests of a unified state and posed a danger to its tranquility. The Jebusites—a Canaanite tribe descended from Jebus, grandson of Ham (through Canaan).

2 Samuel 5:8. And David said that day, “Whoever would smite the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft and strike the lame and the blind, those whom David hates.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house [of the Lord]. “And David said” and so on. Kindled by the mockery of the Jebusites (verse 6), David gives a harsh command: to spare not the defeated enemy. “Therefore it is said....” A proverb that formed later, when the house of the Lord, that is, the Tent and Temple of the Lord, was built on Zion.

2 Samuel 5:9. And David dwelled in the stronghold, and called it the city of David, and built around it from Millo inward. “Hebron, which was the center of the tribe of Judah and its natural capital, could no longer serve as the residence of a king ruling over all Israel, since it lay on the southern edge of the kingdom. David also did not wish to establish his residence in Shechem, the chief city of the tribe of Ephraim and the center of the land of the Hebrews, because he did not find his position secure among the inherently rebellious Ephraimites. He chose instead a neutral point, belonging hitherto to no tribe, lying almost in the center of the Hebrew land, supported from the south by the powerful tribe of Judah, which was related to David, and ruling by its strong position over the northern half of the Hebrew land” (Y. Bogorodsky, “Hebrew Kings”, p. 151). Millo—one of the hills of the Zion height.

2 Samuel 5:13. And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron. By the standards of that time, a monarch’s greatness was measured, among other things, by the number of his wives and concubines.

2 Samuel 5:14. And there were born to David more sons and daughters. And these are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, 2 Samuel 5:15. and Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, and Japhia, 2 Samuel 5:16. and Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphalet, [Shammua, Joshibath, Nathan, Galamaan, Jebaar, Theisus, Eliphalath, Nageb, Nepheg, Jonathan, Leasamis, Baalimath, and Eliphaath]. Cf. (2 Sam 3:2-5).

2 Samuel 5:17. When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. “All (see note to (1 Sam 6:17)) the Philistines went up to search for David.” While David remained king of Judah alone, he was not dangerous to the Philistine protectorate in Canaan; but having become king of a united Israel, he could easily put an end to this protectorate.

2 Samuel 5:18. And the Philistines came and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. The Valley of Rephaim—near Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 5:19. And David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand. “And David inquired of the Lord”—through the high priest and his sanctuary.

2 Samuel 5:20. And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a breaking forth of waters.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. Baal-perazim—one of the points in the Valley of Rephaim.

2 Samuel 5:25. And David did as the Lord commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba to Gezer. “From Geba,” in the parallel passage (1 Chr 14:16) it stands: “from Gibeon.” Gezer—a city to the northwest of Gibeon.