_A.M. 2956. B.C. 1048._ David is anointed king by all the tribes, 2 Samuel 5:1. Takes the strong hold of Zion, 2 Samuel 5:6. Builds him a house; his kingdom is established, 2 Samuel 5:11; 2 Samuel 5:12. Has more children, 2 Samuel 5:13. Conquers the Philistines, 2 Samuel 5:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then came all the tribes to David_ That is, elders, deputed as ambassadors from every tribe, sent by a common agreement among them; _saying, Behold, we are bone of thy bone_, &c. Abner and Ish-bosheth being dead, whose authority had swayed the Israelites against their duty, they now acknowledged Da... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord said, Thou shalt feed my people Israel_ The learned Bishop Patrick very justly observes here, that this is the first time we meet with any ruler, or governor of a people, characterized under the idea of a shepherd; and it cannot but be thought remarkable that the first man so characterized... [ Continue Reading ]
_King David made a league with them_ It is not said what the contents of this league or covenant were. The Jews think it was an act of oblivion and indemnity for all injuries done on either side, whether of Judah against the other tribes, or of all the other tribes against Judah. But in that case th... [ Continue Reading ]
_David was thirty years old when he began to reign_ At this age the Levites were at first appointed to begin their ministrations, Numbers 4:3. About this age the Son of David entered upon his public ministry, Luke 3:23. And it is the age when men come to their full maturity of strength and judgment.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king and his men went to Jerusalem_ His first warlike enterprise, after he was made king of all Israel, was against that part of Jerusalem which was still in the hands of the Jebusites, namely, the strong fort of Zion, which they held, although the Israelites dwelt in the other parts of the cit... [ Continue Reading ]
_David said on that day_ When the assault was made; _Whosoever getteth up into the gutter_ That is, whosoever scaleth the fort, or getteth up to the top of it, where the gutter was. Or, as some understand it, _cuts off their pipes of water_, or their cisterns into which the water fell. Dr. Kennicott... [ Continue Reading ]
_From Millo_ Which seems to have been the town-hall, or state-house, near the wall of the city of Zion; or, as some think, a tower or armory. _The Lord God of hosts was with him_ This was the cause of his great prosperity, that God, who commands all the armies of heaven and earth, directed and bless... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hiram sent messengers to David_, &c. Hearing that he intended to settle in the fort he had taken, Hiram sent him both materials and artificers to build him a palace. For the Jews, being given to feeding cattle and husbandry, were not very skilful in mechanic arts. The accounts left us of this king... [ Continue Reading ]
_For his people Israel's sake_ Well would it be for mankind if all kings had the same view of the design of their exaltation to the sovereignty; if they considered themselves as being raised to their high station for the good of their people; that this is the great end of their appointment; the purs... [ Continue Reading ]
_David took him more concubines and wives_ This may well be reckoned among David's miscarriages, the multiplication of wives being expressly forbidden to the kings of Israel, Deuteronomy 17:17. It may however be observed, perhaps in extenuation of this fault of David, that it has always been looked... [ Continue Reading ]
_All the Philistines came up to seek David_ They raised all the forces they were able, to come up to David, and fight him before he was settled in his new kingdom. While the civil war subsisted between the partisans of David and Ish-bosheth, the Philistines contented themselves with being calm spect... [ Continue Reading ]
_David inquired of the Lord_ Though David went into a strong hold, he did not trust to that, nor intended merely to stand upon his defence. But yet he would not give them battle till he had asked counsel of God, and was encouraged by him to do it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_David came to Baal-perazim_ For thither the Philistines marched from Rephaim, where they first pitched; as appears from 1 Chronicles 14:11. _Hath broken forth upon mine enemies as the breach of waters_ Hath overpowered and scattered them, as waters, when they make a breach in a bank, overflow and c... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there they left their images_ Their gods, which they had brought into the field with them to be carried before their host. Such was the consternation into which they were thrown. Thus we read, 2 Chronicles 25:14, that the Edomites had their gods along with them when they fought with Amaziah. An... [ Continue Reading ]
_And spread themselves_ The expression intimates, that they were very numerous, and made a very formidable appearance. So we read, Revelation 20:9, of the enemies of the church _going up on the breadth of the earth._ But the wider they spread themselves, the fairer mark they are for God's arrows. _A... [ Continue Reading ]
_When thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops_, &c. The Hebrew, בראשׁי, _beroshee_, here translated _tops_, may properly be rendered, _in the beginnings_, or, _among the first of the mulberry-trees;_ that is, in the very entrance of the place where these trees were, or among those which were f... [ Continue Reading ]