Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
2 Samuel 5:5-10
The Capture of Jebus
6. to Jerusalem, &c. The Chronicler paraphrases the text thus, "to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land." Writing after the Captivity, he felt it necessary to explain how the Jebusites came to be dwelling in Jerusalem by a reference to its ancient name of Jebus.
It is not a little remarkable that the metropolis of the Jewish monarchy, the most sacred city in the world, does not take its place in the history of the nation until a comparatively late period.
As the capital of the important Canaanite tribe of the Jebusites, it bore the name of Jebus. It was assigned to Benjamin (Joshua 18:28), but, lying on the border, was first attacked by Judah (Judges 1:8), and afterwards by Benjamin (Judges 1:21). The citadel was either never taken, or soon recovered, for the Jebusites retained joint possession of the city along with the children of Judah and Benjamin through the period of the Judges and down to this time (Joshua 15:63; Judges 1:21).
Political, civil, and military considerations pointed to Jerusalem as the most suitable capital for the united kingdom.
(a) Its position within the territory of Benjamin yet close upon the borders of Judah (or, as some think, and as may be indicated by the passages quoted above, partly in one tribe, partly in the other), was excellently adapted for binding together the two royal tribes, and conciliating the good-will of Benjamin, without alienating Judah.
(b) Its situation was virtually central, not only with regard to these two great tribes, but for the whole land. "It was on the ridge of the backbone of hills, which extend through the whole country from the Desert to the plain of Esdraelon. Every traveller who has trod the central route of Palestine from north to south, must have passed through the table-land of Jerusalem." Stanley's Sinai and Pal.p. 176.
(c) As a military post it was unrivalled. It stood on a rocky plateau surrounded on three sides by deep ravines forming a natural fortress of almost impregnable strength.
On the topography of Jerusalem see Additional Note VI. p. 239.
Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither Render, Thou shalt not come in hither, but the blind and the lame would repel thee; as much as to say, David, &c. So confident were the Jebusites in the strength of their fortress, that they boasted that a garrison of blind and lame men would be sufficient to defend it.
This boast is omitted in Chron., probably as being obscure, and not bearing directly upon the facts of the narrative.