2 Samuel 5:17-21

2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 Samuel 5:17 Until now the Philistines may have considered David to be a paid soldier fighting for them (1 Samuel 27:1). But when David becomes king over Israel (that is, both Israel and Judah) and even captures Jerusalem, they realize he is a threat. went down to the stronghold. This is probably toward the Philistine country. The Valley of Rephaim is the valley leading toward Jerusalem from the southwest. “Baal” in Baal-perazim is here a common noun meaning “lord.” The Philistines left their idols there (2 Samuel 5:21) is a reversal of 1 Samuel 4:1, where the Philistines carried off the ark of the covenant. According to 1 Chronicles 14:12, David had these idols burned.