V. Chapter s 5-6. contain the account of the first half of David’s reign over the whole nation. All the events mentioned in them occurred within this period, but are not arranged with a strict regard to chronology within themselves, it being the object of the historian to describe first the interna... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE TRIBES. — Not only as represented by their elders (2 Samuel 5:3), but by the large bodies of their warriors enumerated in 1 Chronicles 12:23. It is to be noticed, then, that the “children of Judah” (1 Chronicles 12:24), over whom David was already king, joined in the assembly, and that there... [ Continue Reading ]
MADE A LEAGUE WITH THEM. — It would be an anachronism to understand this of the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, but the “league” may have had reference to certain special matters, such as leading them against their enemies, not destroying the remnant of the house of Saul or its late adhe... [ Continue Reading ]
THIRTY YEARS OLD. — This statement of the age and of the length of the reign of David (which is repeated in 1 Chronicles 29:26, at the end of the history of David’s life) shows us approximately the length of time since the combat with Goliath as some ten or twelve years. It also proves that the grea... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN YEARS AND SIX MONTHS. — The six months is also mentioned in 2 Samuel 2:11; 1 Chronicles 3:4, but, as being only the fraction of a year, is generally omitted in the summary of the length of his reign, as in 2 Samuel 5:4; 1 Chronicles 29:27. It was the habit of the sacred historians either to om... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT TO JERUSALEM. — The king of Jerusalem had been defeated and slain by Joshua (Joshua 10:23; Joshua 12:10), and the city had been subsequently taken and destroyed by Judah (Judges 1:7). It was, however, only partially occupied by the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (Judges 1:21; Judges 15:63), and a... [ Continue Reading ]
GETTETH UP TO THE GUTTER. — The sense of this passage is obscure, partly from the difficulty of the Hebrew construction, partly from the uncertainty of the meaning of the word translated _gutter._ This word occurs elsewhere only in Psalms 42:7, where it is translated _waterspouts._ The ancient versi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FORT. — The same word as _strong hold_ in 2 Samuel 5:7. MILLO. — A word always used in Hebrew with the definite article (except in Judges 9:6; Judges 9:20), _the Millo._ It is probably an old Canaanitish name for the fortification on the northern end of Mount Zion, “inward” from which the palace... [ Continue Reading ]
HIRAM KING OF TYRE. — This is the same Hiram, variously spelt _Hirom_ and _Huram,_ who was afterwards the friend of Solomon (1 Kings 5:1; 2 Chronicles 2:3),and was still living in the twenty-fourth year of Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 9:10; comp. 6:1, 38; 7:1); either, therefore, he must have had a reig... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL’S SAKE. — David’s prosperity had not blinded him to the fact that his blessings came to him as the head of the theocracy, and for the sake of God’s chosen people.... [ Continue Reading ]
MORE CONCUBINES AND WIVES. — In Deuteronomy 17:17, the law had been given for the future king, “Neither shall he multiply wives to himself.” David certainly came perilously near a violation of this law, although he did not, like his son Solomon, take wives and concubines in enormous number for the s... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE BE THE NAMES. — The same list, with some variations, is given in 1 Chronicles 3:5; 1 Chronicles 14:5. According to 1 Chronicles 3:5, the first four were children of Bathsheba (Bath-shua), and were consequently not born until a later period of David’s reign. Solomon and Nathan are the two sons... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE PHILISTINES HEARD. — After this general summary, the narrative goes back to take up detailed events in their order. First comes an attack of the Philistines. Their attention had naturally been hitherto occupied with Abner and Ish-bosheth, who ruled over the far greater part of the land; but... [ Continue Reading ]
REPHAIM. — Translated in Joshua 15:8, _the valley of the giants._ It was a fruitful valley, stretching some three miles S. and S.W. from Jerusalem, and only separated from the valley of Hinnom by a narrow ridge. It gave ample room for a large encampment, and its situation is an additional proof that... [ Continue Reading ]
BAAL – PERAZIM = _possessor_ (or _lord_)_ of breaches._ After David had inquired of the Lord and received a favourable answer (2 Samuel 5:19), he made a sudden attack, like a bursting forth of waters, and carried all before him. The victory was so signal as to give a new name to the locality, and to... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR IMAGES. — The Philistines took their idols with them to battle, as the Israelites had formerly taken the ark, and the suddenness and completeness of their defeat is shown by their leaving them on the field. The statement that David “burned” them is taken from 1 Chronicles 14:12, the Hebrew her... [ Continue Reading ]
CAME UP YET AGAIN. — As David had not followed up his victory (probably because he was not yet in condition to do so) the Philistines repeated their attack in the same place.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL NOT GO UP. — The enemy, on the same battle-expound, would have prepared for attack from the same direction as before; consequently David is directed to go round them and attack them unexpectedly from the opposite quarter.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SOUND OF A GOING. — After David has gone to the rear of his enemies, he is to wait by “the mulberry trees,” or, as now generally understood, _baca-shrubs,_ a plant resembling the balsam. Here a Divine signal was to be given him in “the sound of a going,” or, rather, of a march. The word is used... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM GEBA... TO GAZER. — In the parallel passage (1 Chronicles 14:16) it is “from Gibeon to Gazer.” One or the other is a slip of the scribe, and there can be little question that Gibeon is the true reading, since it lies about five and a half miles northwest of Jerusalem, while Geba (Gibeah) is abo... [ Continue Reading ]