David Defeats the Philistines

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(1 Chronicles 12:8) And of the Gadites there separated themselves to David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, men of war fit for the battle, who could handle shield and buckler, whose faces the faces of lions and as swift as the roes on the mountains.

David had overtaken Jerusalem.  The Philistines heard that David had been made king over all of Israel and came looking for him.  This passage in 1 Chronicles 12 does not belong here chronologically.  I have been following a chronological study created by Skip Andrews and can't change now or I would surely miss something.  This passage refers to a time when David was still hiding out from Saul long before he was king and residing in Jerusalem.  It was obviously missed earlier and perhaps placed here to name the men who had previously joined David.  Men from the tribe of Gad on the other side of the Jordan River had joined with David.  They were valiant and courageous men of war, who were skilled in the instruments of war, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, bold, stern, and fierce.  Additionally, they were very swift.

(9) Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, (10) Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, (11) Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, (12) Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, (13) Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.

Those eleven warriors named above from the tribe of Gad joined with David.  

(14) These were the sons of Gad, captains of the host, one of the least over a hundred and the greatest over a thousand.

Those Gadites who joined David were captains of large numbers of men in their own tribe, or perhaps the meaning is that David made them captains.

(15) These are they who went over Jordan in the first month when it had overflowed all its banks, and they put to flight all in the valleys, toward the east and toward the west.

These men had come over to David at a time when the Jordan River had overflowed its banks, at a time when it was probably so deep they had to swim over it, another sign of their fearless boldness.  It seems this band of warriors had put to flight all in the valleys on their way over.

(2 Samuel 5:18) The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.  (1 Chronicles 14:9) And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

Meanwhile, back to David and the Philistines at Jerusalem, the Philistines came and spread themselves out in the Valley of Rephaim, which this map borrowed from Precept Austin shows to be just west of Jerusalem.

(2 Samuel 23:13) And three of the thirty chief went down and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam, and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.

Three of David's chief men went to him in the cave of Adullam where he had apparently gone when the Philistines came and pitched in the Valley of Rephaim.

(14) And David was then in a hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

This map borrowed from BibleWalks shows in more detail the Valley of Rephaim in the upper right quadrant of the map with Jerusalem in the far right and Bethlehem about six miles south which is where the Philistines were then while David was in the cave of Adullam in the lower left quadrant of the map:

(15) And David longed, and said, "Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate."

David longingly said he wished he could have a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem which is said to be about three-quarters of a mile to the north of Bethlehem, subsequently called David's well.

(16) And the three mighty men broke through the host of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink of it but poured it out to the Lord.

The three mighty men took it upon themselves to break through the army of the Philistines to go to the well of Bethlehem and bring water back to David.  However, David did not drink it but poured it out before the Lord.

(17) And he said, "Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

Evidently David had not expected anyone to actually go get him water from the well.  He had just meant to express that it would have been welcome at that time.  He felt he could not drink the water because it represented the blood of the men who had risked their lives just to bring him water.  This was one of the exploits of those three mighty men.  

(1 Chronicles 11:15) Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim. (16) And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem. (17) And David longed, and said, "Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!" (18) And the three broke through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David, but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD, (19) And said, "My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing. Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it." Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.

1 Chronicles 11 told of the same incident, almost verbatim.

(2 Samuel 5:19) And David enquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go up to the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?" And the Lord said to David, "Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand."

Then David asked the Lord if he should go out to the Philistines and if He would deliver them into his hands.  The Lord answered David that he should go forth for He would certainly deliver them into his hands.

(20) And David came to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there, and said, "The Lord has broken forth upon my enemies before me as the breach of waters." Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.

It seems the Philistines, at least some of them, had moved to a place later called Baal Perazim which was said to be in between Bethlehem and Jerusalem.  David struck them there, and said that the Lord had broken forth on the Philistines as floods or rivers of waters overflow a land and overturn all that stands in their way.  He called the place Baal Perazim which literally meant "possessor of breaches" or "lord of the breaks."

(21) And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.

The Philistines had left their images, their false gods, which they had no doubt brought with them to protect and defend them and give them victory over the Israelites.  David and his men burned all their images.

(1 Chronicles 14:10) And David enquired of God, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You deliver them into my hand?" And the LORD said to him, "Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand." (11) So they came up to Baal Perazim; and David struck them there. Then David said, "God has broken in on my enemies by my hand like the breaking forth of waters." Therefore they called the name of that place Baal Perazim. (12) And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.

1 Chronicles 14 told of the same incident with only a little added detail that David commanded the pagan gods to be burned which they then were.

(2 Samuel 5:22) And the Philistines came up yet again and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

More Philistines came forth and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

(23) And when David enquired of the Lord, He said, "You shall not go up, but circle around behind them and come upon them over against the mulberry trees."

David wisely consulted his Lord before each of his advances, for the Lord told him this time not to go forth against the Philistines, but to encircle them from behind specifically in an area across from mulberry trees.

(24) "And let it be when you hear the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall stir yourself, for then shall the Lord go out before you to strike the host of the Philistines."

The Lord went on to instruct David that when he heard the rustling of the trees indicating the advancement of the Philistines, he was then to move toward the Philistines for the Lord would go out before him to strike them.  The Lord purposely used different methods to keep David dependent on Him.  If He struck His enemies the same way every time, David could become complacent and believe it was of himself that his enemies were overcome.

(25) And David did so as the Lord had commanded him and struck the Philistines from Gibeon until you come to Gezer.

David did as the Lord instructed and struck the Philistines all across the valley of Rephaim from Gibeon to Gezer, as seen on the first map above.

(1 Chronicles 14:13) And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. (14) Therefore David enquired again of God, and God said to him, "Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. (15) And it shall be, when you shall hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God is gone forth before you to strike the host of the Philistines." (16) David therefore did as God commanded him, and they struck the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gezer.

1 Chronicles 14 told of the same incident.

(17) And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.

Because of his exploits, David became famous throughout the surrounding lands, and the Lord caused the nations to fear him.

(1 Chronicles 13:1) And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, with every leader.

Then David consulted with all the captains of his troops of varying numbers.

(2) And David said to all the congregation of Israel, "If it seems good to you and of the Lord our God, let us send abroad to our brethren everywhere left in all the land of Israel and with them to the priests and Levites in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves to us."

David spoke to the representatives of all the congregation of Israel and suggested that if it seemed good to them and was in accord with the will of God, they should send word to all their brethren left in Israel who had not yet come there and to all the priests and Levites, that they all might gather there to them.

(3) "And let us bring again the ark of our God to us for we did not enquire at it in the days of Saul.

David proposed that they should bring the ark of the Lord, that symbol of God's divine presence, to the royal city, for they had not enquired of it in the days of Saul, him being rather indifferent to it.

(4) And all the congregation said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

All the congregation of Israel agreed that was what they should do as it seemed right to all of them.  One of David's first concerns as king was to restore religion which had been corrupted and neglected in the days of Saul.

David Takes Zion and Makes It the City of David

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(2 Samuel 5:6) And the king and his men went to Jerusalem to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, "Except you take away the blind and the lame, you shall not come in here," thinking, "David cannot come in here." 

David had just been made king over all of Israel, and it appears he and his men immediately went to Jerusalem which was still ruled by the Jebusites.  I believe the sense of what the Jebusites said to him was that even the blind and the lame of them would prevent David and his men from entering their city.  From what follows, it may be that the lame and the blind were placed at the walls to guard them.  The Jebusites were so confident in the strength of their fortifications that even the blind and the lame would prevent David from entering their city.

(7) Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, the same the City of David. 

However, David took the stronghold of Zion outside the city which would later be called the City of David.  The taking of it probably facilitated the taking of the city.

(8) And David said on that day, "Whoever gets up to the gutter and strikes the Jebusites and the lame and the blind, hated of David's soul, shall be chief and captain." Therefore they say, "The blind and the lame shall not come into the house."

This is a rather difficult verse to interpret.  The words "shall be chief and captain" aren't in the original but were supplied by the KJV translators because that is what it said in the Chronicles version of this incident.  David was obviously calling for someone to get up to the gutter and strike the Jebusites, and the text adds "and the lame and the blind" (emphasis on "and" mine) who were hated by David.  It seems that the lame and the blind would have been Jebusites.  Perhaps the better interpretation never included "and" but just meant for someone to get up to the gutter and strike those blind and lame Jebusites on the wall.  Why it became a saying that the blind and lame should not come into the house, I'm not sure.  Because they were hated by David as being the wicked pagan inhabitants who still inhabited part of the promised land, maybe it became a reference to anyone hated or despised.

Some commentators believe that the lame and the blind referred to idols and images, which had eyes but did not see and feet but did not walk.  In many ways that makes sense.  The Jebusites might have had their gods on the walls thinking they would protect their city.  David would have greatly despised those false idols, and they never would have been allowed back into the house.  However, what does not make sense is that the Jebusites themselves would not have called their gods "the blind and the lame" (verse 6), but I suppose whoever wrote this account might have.

(9) So David dwelt in the fort and called it the City of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

David dwelt in that stronghold he had taken from the Jebusites and called it the City of David.  He built round about his fort from Millo in the north inward to the city.  See this map borrowed from JesusWalk:

The map shows the water shaft which was probably the gutter David spoke about accessing (verse 8).

(10) And David went on and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.

David continued on and grew great, enlarging his dominion, with His Lord with him.

(1 Chronicles 11:4) And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.

1 Chronicles 11 also tells of David and his men going to Jerusalem which was originally called Jebus, and its inhabitants were called Jebusites.

(5) And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, "You shall not come here." Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the City of David.

The Jebusites told David he would not be allowed to come into their city, but he took the stronghold of Zion, called a castle here, and made that his home, becoming known as the City of David.

(6) And David said, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain." So Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first and was chief.

David said that whoever struck the Jebusites first would be chief and captain.  Joab, the son of David's sister Zeruiah, went up first and was made chief.

(7) And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the City of David. (8) And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. (9) So David waxed greater and greater for the Lord of hosts was with him.

David dwelt in the castle Zion, so it became known as the City of David.  He built up the city all around Millo, and Joab repaired the rest of the city.  David grew greater and greater because the Lord was with him.

I'll end this short post here as my chronological study takes me next to a psalm of David.

David Anointed King Over All of Israel

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(2 Samuel 5:1) Then came all the tribes of Israel to David to Hebron, and spoke, saying, "Behold we, your bone and your flesh."

In the last chapter and post, Ishbosheth, the acting king of all Israel except for Judah where David was king, had been murdered, and David had the murderers executed for their crime.  Now representatives of all the tribes of Israel came to David.  They spoke to David and began by telling him they acknowledged that they were all part of the family of Israel.

(2) "Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were he who led out and brought in Israel, and the Lord said to you, 'You shall feed My people Israel, and you shall be a captain over Israel.'"

The reps told David that they realized that when Saul was king of all Israel, it had been David who led out the armies of Israel to fight against their enemies, obtained victories, and brought them home again.  They also acknowledged that the Lord had said that David was to tend His flock, His people Israel, and that He was to reign over them.  Once again, as in 2 Samuel 3:18, we have words quoted as the Lord's words of which we don't find in the Bible.  The Lord probably did say those words at some point, and they had become known by the people.

(3) So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and King David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

Then all the elders of Israel came to David at Hebron, and David made an agreement with them, surely promising to rule over all of Israel justly and righteously, and this he did before the Lord and in His name, I'm sure.  So the elders anointed David king over all of Israel. 

(1 Chronicles 11:1) Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron, saying, "Behold we, your bone and your flesh."

This same incident is recorded in 1 Chronicles 11.  Representatives of all Israel, as all the people of Israel could not have all come, came to David acknowledging that they were all of one family of Israel.

(2) "And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, you were he who led out and brought in Israel, and the Lord your God said to you, 'You shall feed My people Israel, and you shall be ruler over My people Israel." (3) Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron, and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.

As stated before, the reps acknowledged that even when Saul was king, it was David who had led the troops to victories and brought them home again.  They also knew that the Lord had told David he was to rule over Israel.  So the elders of Israel came to David, and David made a covenant with all Israel, and they anointed him king of all Israel as the Lord had determined when He spoke to the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 16:1).

(1 Chronicles 12:23) And these are the numbers of the bands ready armed for war who came to David to Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord.

1 Chronicles 12 numbers the men who were able men of war who came to David in Hebron to make him king over all of Israel in the following verses.

(24) The children of Judah who bore shield and spear, six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed for war.

From the tribe of Judah that had already made David their king, 6800 armed men ready for war came to David.

(25) Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valor for war, seven thousand and one hundred. (26) Of the children of Levi, four thousand and six hundred.

From the tribe of Simeon, 7100 valiant men of war came to David.  Even from the tribe of Levi, who were the priests and their attendants, 4600 men came to David.

(27) And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him, three thousand and seven hundred; (28) And Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father's house, twenty-two captains.

The Aaronites were Levites, but these would have been direct descendants of Aaron.  Jehoiada was captain over that family, and he alone brought 3700 men with him.  Also from the tribe of Levi came Zadok, a young man of valor, and 22 captains from his father's house.

(29) And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand (for until then the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul).

Only 3000 men came from the tribe of Benjamin, as it seems being of the family of Saul, most men maintained their allegiance to the house of Saul up to that point.

(30) And of the children of Ephraim, twenty thousand and eight hundred mighty men of valor, famous throughout the house of their fathers. 

From the tribe of Ephraim, a whopping 20,800 famous men of valor came to David in Hebron.

(31) And of the half tribe of Manasseh, eighteen thousand who were expressed by name to come and make David king.

From the half tribe of Manasseh that was on the same side of the Jordan River, 18,000 men who were expressly named, either specifically called by name for the purpose, or by volunteering by name, came to David to make him king.

(32) And of the children of Issachar who had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do, the heads of them were two hundred, and all their brethren were at their command.

The men of the tribe of Issachar it seems had a unique understanding of the times to know what Israel should do.  There were two hundred heads, and the rest were at their command, apparently having full confidence in their leaders' direction.  Perhaps this meant only 200 went to David to make him king, but all the tribe would have been in agreement that he should be made king.

(33) Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand who could keep rank, not of double heart.

The tribe of Zebulun sent 50,000 men of war who were experts in all instruments of war and ready to organize and go to war if necessary.  These men were steadfast in their loyalty to David.

(34) And of Naphtali, a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear, thirty-seven thousand.

The tribe of Naphtali sent 1000 captains and 37,000 armed men with them.

(35) And of the Danites, expert in war, twenty-eight thousand and six hundred. (36) And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.

From the tribe of Dan came 28,600, and from Asher, 40,000, all men expert in war.

(37) And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, a hundred and twenty thousand.

From the eastern side of the Jordan River came 120,000 men from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the other half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war with them.

(38) All these men of war who could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron to make David king over all Israel, and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.

All these mighty men of valor, well-disciplined and well able to organize for war, if necessary, came with a perfect heart and one mind to make David king over all of Israel.  And it seems that by that time, all of Israel was unanimous in making David king, even the tribe of Benjamin, Saul's tribe.

(39) And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking, for their brethren had prepared for them. (40) Moreover, they who were near them, even to Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly, for there was joy in Israel.

All these tens of thousands of men were with David for three days, celebrating, eating, and drinking, for their brethren who were near enough to them, even as far as the tribes of Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, brought huge amounts of food and wine on all animals that could carry it.  There was great joy in Israel for the people were united again as one people Israel under King David.  This map borrowed from Maps of the World shows the twelve tribes at this time:

(1 Chronicles 29:26) Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.

From that point onward, David reigned over all of Israel.

(2 Samuel 5:5) In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

David had reigned over Judah in Hebron for seven years and six months.  He was about to begin his reign over all of Israel which would last thirty-three years.