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's Family is Enlarged in Jerusalem

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(2 Samuel 5:13) And David took more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem after he had come from Hebron, and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. 

David and his men had conquered the stronghold of Zion in the northern part of Jerusalem and built inward (2 Samuel 5:9).  It appears he had conquered all of Jerusalem by this time.  He took more wives and concubines out of Jerusalem and had more sons and daughters there.

(14) And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem, Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, (15) Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, (16) And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

It appears that eleven sons were born to David in Jerusalem, and they are named here.

(1 Chronicles 3:5) And these were born to him in Jerusalem, Shimeah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel;

1 Chronicles 3 also told of the sons born to David in Jerusalem with a little more detail.  Shammua is called Shimeah here, and David's first four sons born to him in Jerusalem were borne of Bathsheba, called Bathshua here, the daughter of Ammiel.

(6) Ibhar also, and Elishama, and Eliphelet, (7) And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia, (8) And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.  

Nine more sons were added to the list of sons of David, to the four born to Bathsheba, bringing the total to thirteen, whereas 2 Samuel 5 named only eleven.  Elishama and Eliphelet are named twice here.  It is possible that they died young and subsequently had brothers named after them.  However, one of the Elishamas might actually be Elishua from the list in 2 Samuel 5, as Elishua is not listed here.  Nogah is also listed here and not in 2 Samuel 5.  Again, he may have died young.

(9) These were all the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.

These apparently were the sons of David born to his wives only, and do not include sons born to his concubines.  Here is added the name of a daughter, Tamar.

(1 Chronicles 14:3) And David took more wives at Jerusalem, and David begat more sons and daughters.

1 Chronicles 14 also tells of David's additional wives and children in Jerusalem.

(4) Now these are the names of his children which he had in Jerusalem, Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, (5) And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpalet, (6) And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia, (7) And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.

This list of thirteen sons agrees with the list in 1 Chronicles 3 with a little variance in spelling.  Although this reference purports to list the names of his "children" not just his sons, Tamar is not listed here.

(2 Samuel 5:17) But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David, and David heard and went down to the hold.

It might be that the Philistines had lain low while Israel was in the midst of a civil war, but now that they heard that that had been resolved and David was now king of all Israel, they went seeking David.  David heard about it and went down to a stronghold, surely to strategize.

(1 Chronicles 14:8) And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard and went out against them.

David then went out against the Philistines.

I'm going to end this short post here as the next passage takes me to a place I don't quite understand.  I am following a chronological Bible study created by Skip Andrews.  For now, we know that David had become king of all Israel, and his house grew as he married more wives and had many more sons.  When the Philistines heard that he was king, they came looking for him, and he went after them, more details to follow, I am sure.

David Vows to Be a Godly King

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(2 Samuel 5:11) And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons, and they built David a house.

David had become king over all Israel and had taken the castle Zion within the northern city limits of Jerusalem.  Hiram, king of Tyre, then sent messengers to David.  This map borrowed from Reading the Bible - 2021 shows the location of Tyre in relation to Israel.  Tyre was geographically part of the territory allotted to the tribe of Asher according to the Biblical division of Canaan but was never conquered or taken by Israel when they entered the Promised Land.  Hiram, the king of Tyre, was friendly with Israel, and he sent messengers to David, probably offering congratulations, and he also sent cedar logs, carpenters, and masons, who built a house for David.

(12) And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel and that He had exalted his kingdom for His people Israel's sake.

David realized that the Lord Himself had established him as king of Israel as he saw how the Lord was blessing and enlarging him.  He perceived that it was for the Lord's people Israel's sake more than for his own benefit.

(1 Chronicles 14:1) Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and a timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house. (2) And David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel for his kingdom was lifted up on high because of His people Israel.

1 Chronicles 14:1-2 also told of how the king of Tyre sent materials and men to build David a house.  David understood these blessings to be confirmation from God that it was He who lifted up David's kingdom for the benefit of His people Israel.

(Psalm 101:1) (A Psalm of David) I will sing of mercy and judgment, unto You, O Lord, I will sing.

Although there is no Biblical proof that David wrote this psalm at this particular time, it fits here nicely, as he seems to consider what kind of king he will be.  He would be merciful and just for His Lord.

(2) I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

David determined to behave himself wisely in a perfect way.  Although no man is perfect, and we know that David would not always act perfectly, he would strive to walk in the Lord's way.  By asking when the Lord would come to him suggests that he would aim to walk within his house with a perfect heart until God called him to a particular objective.  It might mean that he called on God to walk with him as without God, he could not behave wisely in a perfect way.  However, more than likely, this psalm was actually written at a time before David was finally made king over all Israel.  He was ready to be king and contemplated what sort of king he would be whenever the Lord finally fulfilled His promise to him.

(3) I will set no wicked thing before my eyes; I hate the work of them who turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

As king, David would not allow wickedness in his sight for what fascinates the eye is very apt to gain admission into the heart, just as the fruit first pleased Eve's sight, and then prevailed over her mind and then her actions.  David hated the work of those who turned aside from God's law, and he would not allow their wickedness to cling to him.  He would have nothing to do with wickedness or the workers of it.

(4) A froward heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness.

David might mean he would not allow himself to have a perverted heart and therefore would not know wickedness, or perhaps he meant he would not allow men with perverted hearts to be in his court.  He would not allow wickedness to be around him.

(5) Whoever privately slanders his neighbor, him will I cut off; he who has a high look and a proud heart, I will not suffer.

David vowed to cut off from him anyone who privately slandered another who had no opportunity to defend himself, in other words, a gossiper.  This was not someone who had a valid complaint against his neighbor that he expressed publicly looking for justice.  David would not tolerate prideful arrogant men around him.

(6) My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land that they may dwell with me. He who walks in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

David would seek out and engage the services of only faithful upright followers of God.  Only those who walked in the way of the Lord would serve David in his court.

(7) He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; he who tells lies shall not tarry in my sight.

Dishonest and deceitful men would not be allowed to dwell with David.  Anyone who told lies would not be permitted to stay in his court.

(8) I will early destroy all the wicked of the land that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.

One of David's first actions as king would be to destroy all the wicked of the land so that there would remain no wickedness in the city of the Lord, where holiness only should dwell.  David had now been well established as king of all Israel, and he resolved to be a good and wise king.

Charles Spurgeon, in his Treasury of David, wrote that the 101st psalm was called "The Householder's Psalm," an ideal model for the head of every family.  It was also called "The Mirror for Magistrates" as a model for rulers and judges.  Indeed, if all followed the ideals set forth in this psalm, our world would be a much better place!

Thanksgiving for the Lord's Salvation

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(Psalm 118:1) O give thanks to the Lord for He is good; because His mercy is forever.

David had just been made king over all Israel and dwelt in the City of David, formerly Zion.  His days of hiding out from Saul and his enemies had come to an end.  He had much for which to be thankful, so it is plausible he could have written a psalm of thanksgiving at this time.  He began his psalm by encouraging people to give thanks to the Lord for He was good and His mercy was forever.  It's not only when we have been given the thing we desired that we should be thankful.  We are thankful because our God is all good and just; He can be nothing but that, so we can have faith that the right thing will happen in the end, even if we don't see the big picture at the time.  All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).  We are thankful that the Lord is ever merciful, and in His loving mercy, we do not have to suffer just punishment for our sins but can turn to Jesus to cover them.

(2) Let Israel now say that His mercy is forever.

Israel was now one again under King David, and David called on all Israel to acknowledge that the Lord's mercy was forever as He had brought His people to this moment.

(3) Let the house of Aaron now say that His mercy is forever. (4) Let them who fear the Lord now say that His mercy is forever.

David called on the priests and their ministers to acknowledge that the Lord's mercy was forever.  He called on all who feared the Lord to acknowledge that His mercy endured forever.  David exhorted the people three times to say that the Lord's mercy was forever.  We are not only to believe but to proclaim the goodness of God.  Romans 10:9 tells us to believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus.

(5) I called upon the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me and set me in a large place.

David had called upon the Lord when he was distressed, and the Lord had answered him.  He set him in a large place with space and freedom on every side.

(6) The Lord is on my side, I will not fear; what can man do to me?

As long as the Lord is with us, we have nothing to fear because He is all-good and merciful, and He works things together for good.  What can mere man really do to us?  He may take our lives, but he cannot take our souls, and actually, he cannot even take our lives if it is not within God's will.  And we can trust that if a man does take our lives, God will use it for good because He is all-good and merciful and can be nothing but; it's His very nature.

(7) The Lord takes my part with them who help me; therefore shall I see upon them who hate me.

The Lord helped both David and his men, and He sent men to help David.  Because the Lord was with him, David would look upon his enemies, look them straight in the face, and have no fear.

(8) Better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. (9) Better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

David declared it was better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in men or even princes.  Mere men will always disappoint, but the Lord is faithful.

(10) All nations compassed me about, but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. (11) They compassed me about, yea, they compassed me about, but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

David was surrounded by all the pagan nations round about the promised land, and some still within the promised land, but he had confidence that in the name of the Lord, and as it was God's will that these nations be destroyed, he would destroy them.  So confident was he that he repeated it two more times.

(12) They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns, for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

Although his enemies had swarmed him like bees, they were quenched as the fire of thorns that burns a hot blaze but quickly leaves only a pile of ashes.  A fourth time David stated that in the name of the Lord he would destroy them.

(13) You have thrust sore at me that I might fall, but the Lord helped me.

Although his enemies had pushed violently against him trying to take him down, the Lord had helped him.

(14) The Lord is my strength and song and has become my salvation.

The Lord was David's strength, and it was a song of praise to only Him that he wrote and sang.  The Lord was his salvation, having saved him and brought him to his position as king of Israel.

(15) The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. (16) The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.

The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the dwelling of the righteous.  We are only considered righteous because of God's love and mercy in sending us Jesus to atone for our sins.  That is the reason for our joy, and it is because of Him only that we are saved.  The right hand of the Lord acts powerfully; it is exalted above all and acts nobly and excellently.

(17) I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

David did not die in his affliction, but lived, and he would declare the works of the Lord.  Because of Jesus, we may never die, and we should proclaim those works of the Lord who gives us that everlasting life.

(18) The Lord has chastened me sore, but He has not given me over to death.

David admitted that the Lord had allowed many afflictions to torment him, but we need to remember that even in those times, the Lord uses it for good.  He may allow those afflictions to teach us patience, to open our eyes to truth, and to have us look to Him, our only means to salvation.  Although the Lord had chastened David, refining him to be a good king, He had not given him over to death, and for that David was grateful.

(19) Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go into them; I will praise the Lord, (20) This gate of the Lord into which the righteous shall enter.

Many of the commentators that I study thought David meant for porters to open the gates of the temple for him.  David used much symbolic language in his psalms, so I rather think this was a plea to be allowed to enter the Lord's presence, which he would eagerly do, where he would praise Him.  David desired this special access to the Lord that only the righteous could have.

(21) I will praise You, for You have heard me and have become my salvation.

David praised his Lord for hearing him and being his salvation, saving him from his troubles, yes, but more importantly, saving his eternal soul.

(22) The stone the builders refused has become the head of the corner. (23) This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

David spoke prophetically about the stone the builders refused.  In a way, it applied to himself, as Saul and even all the tribes except Judah had rejected him, but he had become king of Israel, and that had been the Lord's doing from the beginning.  It was a wondrous thing to see how God raised up a shepherd boy to be His chosen king.  Of course, these were the very words of and about Jesus.  In Matthew 21:42, Jesus referred to this very scripture when He asked if the chief priests and elders had read it.  In Acts 4:11, Peter told the priests and elders that Jesus was the stone that had been rejected by the builders, and He had become the cornerstone.

(24) This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

This was the day that the Lord had brought fulfillment.  David was king, and the people would rejoice and be glad.  I can't help but think that this could be our prayer for each and every day.  Every day is a day the Lord has made.  No matter what is going on in our lives, He has allowed us to see another day which offers a new beginning, a day of endless possibilities.  It's exciting to see what He will do!  We will rejoice and be glad for our Lord has made this day.

(25) Save now, I beseech You, O Lord; O Lord, I beseech You, send now prosperity.

God save the king!  David prayed that the Lord make him prosper as a king and send prosperity to their land.

(26) Blessed He who comes in the name of the Lord; we have blessed You out of the house of the Lord.

While these could be words said by the people about David, they are most assuredly prophetic words spoken by David about the coming Messiah.  The people said these very words at Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem when they adorned His way and cried, "Hosanna!"  They were also the words of Jesus Himself speaking about Himself in Matthew 23:29.

(27) God is the Lord who has showed us light; bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.

I believe the sense of this verse is that because the Lord had restored His people from darkness to light, they would willingly offer sacrifices to Him. 

(28) You are my God, and I will praise You; my God, I will exalt You.

David acknowledged that the Lord was his God, and he would raise Him up with his words and in his heart and praise Him.

(29) O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy is forever.

David ended his psalm as he began it, with an exhortation for thanks to the Lord because He was forever good and merciful.  Thus ends a very beautiful psalm.  Personally, I feel like this psalm reads more like an actual song than do some of David's other psalms, because of the repetitions, sort of like a chorus.  Actually, this psalm is part of the great Hallel, a song of praise, sung on great occasions such as some of the Jewish festivals.

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.

The Righteous Judge the Lord Reigns Over All

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(Psalm 58:1) (To the chief musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David.) Do you indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? Do you judge uprightly, O you sons of men?

There is no evidence that this psalm was written at this particular time, but its theme following the murders of Saul, Abner, and Ishbosheth, make it plausible.  First of all, Altaschith literally meant "do not destroy."  Some early commentators think it might have been the name of a song to which tune David's psalm was to be sung.  I rather think he literally meant not to destroy that psalm as it was important to him.  A michtam, although its meaning is uncertain, the word coming from a root meaning "to engrave," probably meant it was something to be recorded and written, making it of some importance to David.  David began his psalm by asking if mere men judged righteously.

(2) Yea, in heart you work wickedness; you weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

David declared that the heart of man was wicked, and therefore men worked wickedness.  I believe the meaning of weighing the violence of their hands referred to the scales of justice and that they pretended what they did was just.

(3) The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.

David said that the wicked were estranged from God from birth, but actually all men are born wicked since the fall of Adam.  It is only because we accept salvation in the blood of Jesus and choose to follow God and His Holy Spirit that we may be considered righteous.

(4) Their poison is like the poison of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear, (5) Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.

Their poison was like the poison of a serpent because it was from the great serpent Satan, the same that was in the garden tempting Eve.  That serpent would not be charmed by even the most skilled snake charmers.

(6) Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth; break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Lord.

David prayed that the Lord break the fangs of the serpents and the teeth of the lions which was symbolic of the power and means of the wicked; he prayed that God take away their means of pursuing their wickedness.

(7) Let them melt away as waters which run continually; when he bends his bow, let his arrows be as cut in pieces.

Let the teeth or the actions of the wicked melt away as water that flows downward until it is gone.  When the wicked bent his bow to do evil, let his arrows be cut to pieces and of no effect.

(8) As a snail melts, let them pass away; like the untimely birth of a woman, they may not see the sun.

The snail leaves a slimy path and appears to have melted away when it dies at the end of its slimy trail.  David wished for the wicked or their wicked devices to melt or pass away like that.  A woman's untimely birth refers to a premature birth, the miscarriage of a baby who will never live to see the sun.  David wished that the evil schemes of the wicked never come to fruition.

(9) Before your pots can feel the thorns, He shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living and in wrath.

I believe the sense is that dry thorns make a great blaze, and before the pots above the blaze can feel the heat, that quickly will God take away the wicked in the very midst of the man's life and in the fury of his rage.

(10) The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

The righteous would rejoice when they saw just punishment inflicted on the wicked and saw that wickedness did not triumph.  I don't believe that washing their feet in the blood of the wicked means they delight in their great slaughter, but rather that the entire overthrow of the wicked would be so great that that might be a result.  David was a man of war, and he often used wartime images in his psalms.  However, bloody vengeance by man and delight in the killing of men is not the lesson here.  Vengeance belongs to the Lord (Romans 12:19), and the righteous may rejoice when they see the Lord deliver them in His righteous judgment and when they see that wickedness did not triumph, but the love of Jesus taught us that we do not rejoice in the killing of anyone.  It is actually a very sad thing that a spiritually lost person will be eternally tortured in hell.  That is why we should pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44).

(11) So that a man shall say, "Verily, a reward for the righteous; verily, He is a God who judges in the earth."

And that is what we rejoice in, that we have a just God who delivers us from evil and blesses and rewards us.  Even if it seems not in this life, you can be sure it will be in the next.  However, we can rejoice that we have a righteous God who does indeed judge in the present on the earth and not just in the afterlife.

(Psalm 93:1) The Lord reigns; He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength in which He has girded Himself; the world also is established that it cannot be moved.

This short psalm logically follows the last verse of Psalm 58 that spoke of our God who judges in the earth.  He currently reigns and is clothed in majesty and strength, as He always has been.  And because He reigns, the world also cannot be moved, but what He has willed will come to pass.

(2) Your throne is established of old; You are from everlasting.

God's rule and His plan have been from the beginning.  He is in control, and nothing takes Him by surprise.  We may take comfort in this.

(3) The floods have lifted up, O Lord; the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.

The enemies of God's kingdom are compared to floods because of their numbers, force, and rage.  They have lifted up their noise and their waves as if they might sweep everything away.

(4) The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea.

However, the Lord is mightier than the floods of enemies.  Even the most powerful empires of enemies cannot prevail against Him; therefore those who trust in Him have nothing to fear.

(5) Your testimonies are very sure; holiness becomes Your house, O Lord, forever.

The Lord's words are true and trustworthy.  Holiness, righteousness, faithfulness, love, mercy, and all good unchanging attributes of the Lord adorn His house forever, and therefore in Him, we may forever have faith.

(Psalm 95:1) O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation.

And because the Lord is mightier than our enemies and faithful and just, and we may forever trust in Him, it logically follows that we should sing praises to Him, to Christ who is the cornerstone, the very foundation, and the only means to our salvation.

(2) Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving and make a joyful noise to Him with psalms.

David encourages us to come before the Lord, and in His presence, with thanksgiving and joyful songs.  The Lord inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3), and where two or three are gathered in His name, He will be there (Matthew 18:20).

(3) For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods.

Our Lord is a great God, above all the false gods and idols, over everything and everyone in heaven and in earth and in all the universe.

(4) In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the strength of the hills is His also.

Nothing on earth is out of God's reach; He is Lord over all.

(5) The sea is His, and He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.

Not only is nothing out of His reach, but He made everything there is.

(6) O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

David encourages us to worship, bow down, and kneel before the Lord, the One who made us and knows us through and through.  We must give ourselves wholly to Him.

(7) For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice, (8) Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, as in the day of temptation in the wilderness.

Our God is the Shepherd of His people.  We are sheep to be led by Him.  Then David made a remarkable invitation to all people to hear the word of the Lord and to not harden their hearts as in the days of God's people provoking Him in the wilderness.

(9) "When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My work."

David spoke the words of His Lord when he said that the people's forefathers had tempted and tested Him and saw the results of it.

(10) "Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, 'It is a people who do err in their hearts, and they have not known My ways, (11) Unto whom I swore in My wrath that they should not enter into My rest.'"

David continued speaking the words of the Lord as He said He had been grieved by that generation of Israelites for forty years in the wilderness.  They were a people who erred in their hearts and had not known the ways of the Lord, and the Lord had sworn in His wrath that they would not enter into the land of Canaan, their rest that God had promised to them when He led them out of Egypt.

These three psalms woven together gave us a beautiful illustration of the Lord who reigns over all.  Only He is the righteous Judge, and we are fortunate to have Him working in our lives in the present, and because He does, we worship Him and sing praises to Him.  Unlike the Israelites in the wilderness, we have precious Jesus who covers our sins and intervenes for us.  We will sin as they did because we are all sinners and that is what sinners do, but if we harden not our hearts and look to Jesus, making Him Lord of our lives, He forgives us and guides us with His Holy Spirit, and we are assured of that eternal rest in Him.

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.

Ishbosheth Is Murdered

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(2 Samuel 4:1) And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

In the last chapter and post, Abner had joined forces with David, but Joab accused him of deception and killed him, unbeknownst to David.  When Saul's son Ishbosheth, who Abner had set up as king over Israel, heard that he was dead, his hands probably trembled in fear.  But the meaning may more likely be that his hands were weakened because in Abner, he had lost his main support and strength.  All the Israelites were troubled by the news of Abner's death.

(2) And Saul's son had two men, captains of bands, the name of the one Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite of the children of Benjamin (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin, (3) And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and were sojourners there until this day).

Ishbosheth had two men who were captains of troops in his army, two brothers, Baanah and Rechab, sons of Rimmon, a Beerothite of the tribe of Benjamin.  The Beerothites had previously fled from Beeroth to Gittaim, another city in Benjamin, probably at the news of Saul's death (1 Samuel 31:7), gathered from what follows in the next verse.  

(4) And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son lame of feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled, and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

Saul's eldest son, Jonathan, had a son named Mephibosheth who was five years old when his father and grandfather were killed.  When the news came of their death, the boy's nurse scooped him up and fled, but at some point, he fell and became permanently lame.

(5) And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.

Back to Ishbosheth's two captains, Rechab and Baanah, they went into the house of Ishbosheth one day during the heat of the day when Ishbosheth rested on his bed.

(6) And they came there into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat, and they struck him under the fifth rib, and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. (7) For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they struck him, and killed him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and got away through the plain all night.

Rechab and Baanah, who were captains in Ishbosheth's own army, came into his house as though they were just fetching some wheat as must have been customary for them to do to feed the soldiers.  However, they went into Ishbosheth's bedchamber and stabbed him under the fifth rib as he rested on his bed.  Under the fifth rib appears to be the deliberate choice of murderers as this is the third time in recent study someone has been stabbed and killed in that location.  That is roughly the location of the lung or heart and would prove to be a fatal wound.  After they killed him, the brothers beheaded him and took his head and escaped into the plains where they apparently ran the rest of the day and all night.

(8) And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David to Hebron, and said to the king, "Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul your enemy who sought your life, and the Lord has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and of his seed."

They took Ishbosheth's head to David at Hebron, expecting him to consider it a very acceptable gift, as they presented it as being of his enemy who had sought his life and claimed it was of the Lord who had avenged him of Saul and his offspring.

(9) And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, "As the Lord lives who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity, (10) When one told me, saying, 'Behold, Saul is dead,' thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him and killed him in Ziklag who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings, (11) How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand and take you away from the earth?"

David answered the brothers in a way they had not expected.  First of all, he acknowledged that the Lord had been the one to deliver his soul out of all adversity; he did not need the aid of murderers.  He told them of the time when the young man came to him to tell him of Saul's death (and how he had finished him off), thinking David would have thought that good news and perhaps rewarded him, he instead had him killed (2 Samuel 1:15).  He rhetorically asked the brothers how much more should he do to wicked men who had slain a righteous man in his own house in his own bed.

(12) And David commanded his young men, and they killed them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

David commanded his men to kill Rechab and Baanah.  They cut off their hands and their feet and then hanged them up over the pool in Hebron.  Dr. John Gill, in his Exposition of the Bible, said that they cut off the hands because those had killed Ishbosheth, and they cut off the feet because those had taken them into Ishbosheth's house and bedchamber to kill him.  The Jews called it measure for measure.  Then David and his men took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the sepulcher of Abner in Hebron.

David was showing himself to be a just king.  Even though these men had killed a supposed enemy to David, as well as the man who killed Saul, David's fiercest enemy, David showed a strict regard for justice.  Those murderers had taken the law into their own hands and had executed men who were at the time innocent according to the law.  David would not allow vigilante justice.  David, as king, would render capital punishment, and these men had confessed to the murders, and David had them put to death.  

David had been equally incensed when Joab had murdered Abner, but at the time felt he was too new to the kingdom (and not fully accepted as king of all Israel since Ishbosheth still ruled at the time) to make Joab's execution one of his first acts, especially since he was of high office and very powerful.  David had said that the Lord would judge Joab according to his deed.