CHAPTER V _The elders of ad the tribes of Israel come and anoint David_ _king over all Israel_, 1-5. _He goes against the Jebusites, and takes the strong hold of_ _Zion, and afterwards the city itself; which is called the_ _city of David_, 6-9. _David's prosperity, and friendship with Hiram, k... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 5:3. _THEY ANOINTED DAVID KING_] This was the third time that David was anointed, having now taken possession of the whole kingdom.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 5:6. _THE KING AND HIS MEN WENT TO JERUSALEM_] This city was now in the hands of the Jebusites; but how they got possession of it is not known, probably they took it during the wars between Ish-bosheth and David. After Joshua's death, what is called the _lower city_ was taken by the I... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 5:11. _HIRAM KING OF TYRE_] He was a very friendly man, and no doubt a believer in the true God. He was not only a friend to David, but also of his son Solomon, to whom, in building the temple, he afforded the most important assistance.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 5:13. _DAVID TOOK_ HIM _MORE CONCUBINES_] He had, in all conscience, enough before; he had, in the whole, _eight wives_ and _ten concubines_. That dispensation permitted _polygamy_, but from the beginning it was not so; and as upon an average there are about _fourteen_ males born to _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 5:14. _THESE_ BE _THE NAMES_] _Eleven_ children are here enumerated in the Hebrew text; but the _Septuagint_ has no less than _twenty-four_. I shall insert their names, and the reader if he please may collate them with the text: _Sammus, Sobab, Nathan,_ _Solomon, Ebear, Elisue, Naphek... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 5:17. _THE PHILISTINES CAME UP TO SEEK DAVID_] Ever since the defeat of the Israelites and the fall of Saul and his sons, the Philistines seem to have been in undisturbed possession of the principal places in the land of Israel; now, finding that David was chosen king by the whole nat... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 5:19. _DAVID INQUIRED OF THE LORD_] He considered himself only the captain of the Lord's host, and therefore would not strike a stroke without the command of his Superior.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 5:20. _THE LORD HATH BROKEN FORTH_] He very properly attributes the victory of Jehovah, without whose strength and counsel he could have done nothing. _BAAL-PERAZIM_] The _plain_ or _chief of breaches_, because of the _breach_ which God made in the Philistine army; and thus he commem... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 5:21. _THEY LEFT THEIR IMAGES_] It was the custom of most nations to carry their gods with them to battle: in imitation of this custom the Israelites once took the ark and lost it in the field; see 1 Samuel 4:10-9.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 5:23. _FETCH A COMPASS BEHIND THEM_] When they may be had, God will not work without using _human means_. By this he taught David caution, prudence, and dependence on the Divine strength.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 5:24. _WHEN THOU HEAREST THE SOUND OF A GOING_] If there had not been an evident _supernatural interference_, David might have thought that the _sleight_ or _ruse de guerre_ which he had used was the cause of his victory. By the _going in the tops of the mulberry_ _trees_ probably onl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Samuel 5:25. _AND DAVID DID SO_] He punctually obeyed the directions of the Lord, and then every thing succeeded to his wish. How is it that such supernatural directions and assistances are not communicated now? Because they are not asked for; and they are not asked for because they are not... [ Continue Reading ]