XIV. This section is a duplicate of 2 Samuel 5:11. In the older work it follows immediately upon the account of the taking of Jebus (2 Samuel 5:6), and precedes that of the removal of the Ark. Neither Samuel nor the chronicler has observed the order of chronology. The chronicler may have transposed... [ Continue Reading ]
HIRAM. — So the Hebrew text of Chronicles spells the name, and the LXX. and all the other ancient versions both of Samuel and Chronicles have it so. But the Hebrew margin of Chronicles writes “Huram.” MESSENGERS. — Ambassadors. TIMBER OF CEDARS. — Felled from the Lebanon, and sea-borne to Joppa (2... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID PERCEIVED... — And _David knew that Jehovah had appointed him._ The willing alliance of the powerful sovereign of Phoenician Tyre was so understood by David. The favour of man is sometimes a sign of the approval of God — always, when it results from well-doing (Genesis 39:21; Luke 2:52).... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID TOOK MORE WIVES. — The verse is considerably abbreviated as compared with Samuel, which reads, “concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron.” The concubines are not omitted because of offence, for they are mentioned in 1 Chronicles 3:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS CHILDREN. — Literally, _the born._ Samuel has a different word from the same root, and omits the relative pronoun and its verb. (For the names, comp. 1 Chronicles 3:5, Notes, and 2 Samuel 5:14.) The list is repeated here because it occurred at this point in the document which the historian was c... [ Continue Reading ]
II. — DAVID’S TWO VICTORIES OVER THE PHILIS TINES (1 Chronicles 14:8; 2 Samuel 5:17). Although placed here after the account of the palace building, this invasion must have occurred earlier in the reign of David, and probably soon after the storming of Jerusalem, a proof of capacity, which would ro... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PHILISTINES CAME. — _Now the Philistines had come_. The narrative goes back to 1 Chronicles 14:8 a. The invaders had approached by another road than usual, and encamped in the valley of Rephaim (1 Chronicles 11:15). SPREAD THEMSELVES. — The chronicler has given an easier term than that used... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID ENQUIRED OF GOD. — How? Through the high priest Abiathar, who sought Divine direction by means of the Urim and Thummim, or sacred lots, which he carried in a pouch on his breast, which was fastened to the ephod, or priestly mantle. (See Exodus 28:30; Exodus 39:21; Leviticus 8:8; Numbers 27... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEY CAME UP TO BAAL-PERAZIM. — And they: that is, David and his troops. Samuel, “And David came into Baal-perazim.” The locality is unknown. The prophet Isaiah (1 Chronicles 28:21) refers to these two victories of David: “For _Jehovah_ shall rise up as in Mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY HAD LEFT THEIR GODS THERE. — Samuel, “their images.” Our word is explanatory. DAVID GAVE A COMMANDMENT, AND THEY WERE BURNED WITH FIRE. — Samuel, “And David and his men carried them off” (Heb.). The two statements are not incompatible, and may both have existed in the same original te... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE VALLEY — “of Rephaim” (Samuel). Slightly abridged.... [ Continue Reading ]
(13-16) A second Philistine invasion and defeat (2 Samuel 5:22).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE DAVID ENQUIRED. — The first half of this verse is fuller and clearer than in Samuel. The second half must be adjusted by comparison with the older text, which reads, “Thou must not go up [LXX., “to meet them “]; go round to their rear, and come upon them in front of the _baca_ trees.” Prob... [ Continue Reading ]
A SOUND OF GOING. — Rather, _the sound of marching._ The sign may have been a natural one. David was to listen for the wind rustling in the tops of the _bacas — a_ sound like that of walking on dead leaves — and then to make his attack. (But comp 2 Kings 7:6.) But we are reminded, in connection with... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID THEREFORE. — _And David did._ Samuel adds “so.” AND THEY SMOTE THE HOST (camp). — Samuel, “and he smote the Philistines.” (Comp. 1 Chronicles 14:11.) FROM GIBEON. — The present Hebrew text of Samuel has Geba. The LXX. agrees with Chronicles in reading Gibeon, but the Targum, Syriac, and Arab... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS VERSE IS NOT IN SAMUEL. It looks like a concluding reflection of the chronicler’s, similar to 2 Chronicles 17:10; 2 Chronicles 20:29. THE FAME OF DAVID WENT OUT. — _David’s name._ The same phrase recurs in 2 Chronicles 26:15. ALL LANDS. — _All the lands._ (Comp. Psalms 19:4.) AND THE LORD BRO... [ Continue Reading ]