2 Samuel 5:23

_AND WHEN DAVID INQUIRED OF THE LORD, HE SAID, THOU SHALT NOT GO UP; BUT FETCH A COMPASS BEHIND THEM, AND COME UPON THEM OVER AGAINST THE MULBERRY TREES._ No JFB commentary on this verse....

17-25 The Philistines considered not that David had the presence of God with him, which Saul had forfeited and lost. The kingdom of the Messiah, as soon as it was set up in the world, was thus attacked by the powers of darkness. The heathen raged, and the kings of the earth set themselves to oppose it; but all in vain, Psalms 2:1. The destruction will turn, as this did, upon Satan's own kingdom. David owns dependence on God for victory and refers himself to the good pleasure of God, Wilt thou do it? The assurance God has given us of victory over our spiritual enemies, should encourage us in our spiritual conflicts. David waited till God moved; he stirred then, but not till then. He was trained up in dependence on God and his providence. God performed his promise, and David failed not to improve his advantages. When the kingdom of the Messiah was to be set up, the apostles, who were to b...

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....

THE MULBERRY TREES - Rather, the Bacah-tree, and found abundantly near Mecca. It is very like the balsam-tree, and probably derives its name from the exudation of the sap in drops like tears when a leaf is torn off. Some think the valley of Baca Psalms 84:6 was so called from this plant growing there....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 5:1 THEN CAME ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL. As Ishbosheth reigned only two years, and David's reign at Hebron lasted for seven years and a half, there is an interval of more than five years to be accounted for; and we have given reason for believing (see note on 2 Samuel 2:10) that it must be placed after the death of Ishbosheth. The treacherous murder of Abner, and the tragic fate of Ishbosheth following upon it so rapidly, must have filled all Israel with horror, and made them look upon David as "a bloody man" (2 Samuel 16:8). But gradually his innocence became clear to all except inveterate partisans, and as the prejudice against him passed away, th

AND WHEN DAVID INQUIRED OF THE LORD,.... For though he had success before, and got the victory, he would not engage again with them without having the mind and will of God, on whom he knew victory alone depended: HE SAID, THOU SHALT NOT GO UP; that is, directly, and in a straight line: [BUT] FETCH A COMPASS BEHIND THEM; and get to the rear of them, instead of falling upon them in the front: AND COME UPON THEM OVER AGAINST THE MULBERRY TREES: which grew in the valley of Rephaim, and near where the Philistines had pitched....

2. DAVID'S CONQUEST OF ZION AND VICTORY OVER THE PHILISTINES CHAPTER 5:6-25 _ 1. David's conquest of Zion (2 Samuel 5:6)_ 2. Hiram King of Tyre (2 Samuel 5:11) 3. David's additional concubines and wives (2 Samuel 5:13) 4. The victory over the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:17) Zion is closely linked with David's anointing as king over all Israel. Here 1 Chronicles 11 must be read for a more complete account of what took place. Jerusalem is now to become the capital of the great kingdom. The oldest name

VICTORIES OVER THE PHILISTINES (J). (_Cf._ p. 67.) David twice defeats the Philistines in the Valley of Rephaim (p. 31, Isaiah 17:5 *). The growing strength of David had roused the apprehensions of his suzerains. These incidents seem prior to the capture of Jerusalem, and are sometimes supposed to have been inserted from another document; they may, however, be from (J), having been transposed by the editor. The hold is perhaps Adullam. The fact that we are told that David named the place Baal-perazim, Baal of Breaches, shows that the author saw nothing wrong in the use of Baal as a title of Yahweh (1 S. 4:49*.) The victors took. away the gods (so LXX and 1 Chronicles 14:12) of the Philistines. The Chronicler, anxious that his readers should not suppose that David intended to worship them, chan

Two victories over the Philistines =1 Chronicles 14:8-16 17. _But when the Philistines heard_ This Philistine invasion probably followed soon after the capture of Jebus. The Philistines were alarmed by the union of the Israelites under a king of proved vigour, who had inaugurated his reign by a brilliant military achievement. They therefore mustered their whole force (cp. 1 Samuel 29:1), for a strenuous effort to crush him. _came up_ From the plains of Philistia to the highlands of Judah. _went down to the hold_ The word translated "hold" is the same as that translated "stronghold" in 2 Samuel 5:7, and "fort" in...

_David Against the Philistines_ 2 Samuel 5:17-25 17 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard _of it,_ and went down to the hold. 18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there, and said, The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim. 21 And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them. 22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in