2 SAMUEL LESSON 6
We will begin this in II Samuel 5:1 "Then came all the tribes of
Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we [are] thy
bone and thy flesh."
This does not mean that every single person came, but means that
large numbers of them came. Some believe the number that came were
into the hundreds of thousands. This happened, probably, quite a time
after the death of Ishbosheth. This large gathering to see David is,
possibly, to remind him that they are the same nationality that he is.
Their common enemy is the Philistine. They are all Israelites
descended from Jacob.
II Samuel 5:2 "Also in time past, when Saul was king over us,
thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD
said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a
captain over Israel."
This is a recognition of David, as being the anointed king of
Israel. David was highly respected as a mighty military leader. This,
however, is recognizing him as a leader in domestic affairs,as well.
II Samuel 5:3 "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."
Israel had never been governed by an earthly king, until Saul. We
see, in this verse above, that all of Israel had decided they want
David to rule over them. They have unanimously agreed that he should
be their king, so they anoint him for that office. They all travelled
to anoint him in Hebron. He had already ruled locally in Hebron for
seven and a half years.
II Samuel 5:4 "David [was] thirty years old when he began to
reign, [and] he reigned forty years."
He was thirty, when he began his reign in Hebron. Not at the
time, they made him king of all Israel. He was 70 years old, when he
died.
II Samuel 5:5 "In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and
six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over
all Israel and Judah."
Now, we see that the 40 year reign included the seven and a half
years he reigned over just Judah.
II Samuel 5:6 "And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto
the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David,
saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not
come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither."
Hebron had been associated as the capital of Judah. These other
tribes did not want to become part of Judah. They just wanted David to
rule over them as a united Israel. They would have to seek a new
capital. The Jebusites had been defeated a number of times, but always
seemed to come back strong. At this time mentioned here, they seemed
to have control of Jerusalem, known as Jebus. Shalom was added to the
name, because it meant peace. This signified that Jerusalem was a city
of peace. These Jebusites were proud, obstinate people, who thought
they could not be overthrown. They thought of David and his men as
helpless against them, as the blind and lame.
II Samuel 5:7 "Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion:
the same [is] the city of David."
All of their powerful boasting was to no avail. David took Zion.
Zion was the hill on the southwest corner. It is, also, the place the
LORD chose for the sight of the temple later. The city of David is
Jerusalem.
II Samuel 5:8 "And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up
to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind,
[that are] hated of David's soul, [he shall be chief and captain].
Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the
house."
The city was thought of as impossible to penetrate. They had
overlooked the water system, and possibly, some of David's men went in
through the gutter, spoken of above, into the city. They would have
had to wade water, probably, shoulder deep to get in that way. The
brave men, who would slip into the city this way, would be given the
high positions of chief and captain. It appears that, Joab was one of
the volunteers who went in, and then, he regained his position in
David's army. They speak of weak people as the lame and the blind;
those who are unable to help themselves.
II Samuel 5:9 "So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city
of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward."
This is speaking of a fort on Mount Zion. This is where David
stationed himself, until the whole city could be taken. This fort at
Millo became known as the Citadel.
II Samuel 5:10 "And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD
God of hosts [was] with him."
We know the LORD had been with David from the very beginning. It
was the strength of the LORD in David that made him win over the giant
Goliath. This victory over Goliath threw him into prominence. We,
also, know that the LORD protected David from the jealousy of Saul.
The LORD had Samuel to anoint David as king, many years before he
became king. The LORD protected him over and over. God was with him in
every battle. God will set up the city of Jerusalem as David's city.
It will be known as the city of God. At first, only Samuel, David, and
David's family knew that the LORD had Samuel to anoint him king. Soon,
it became apparent to everyone that the LORD wanted David to be the
king over all Israel.
II Samuel 5:11 "And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David,
and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an
house."
Cedar trees have a strength and durability, that makes houses
built of them last a very long time. Perhaps, this gesture from the
king of Tyre was to let David know he wanted to be friends with him.
He did not want to have war with a man such as David, who was so
blessed of God. David's men were not as skilled in the fine arts as
the men of Tyre. The men of Tyre were artisans at building and
decorating. David's men were men of war.
II Samuel 5:12 "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."
We know, from reading the Psalms, that David had some very sad
times in his life, when he was not sure of being king over all Israel.
The first few years, when Saul was chasing him to kill him, were
certainly uncertain. The fact that he was recognized by the king of
Tyre and built a home to live in, helps him realize that he is truly
king of all Israel. David was aware that the LORD did this to help all
of Israel. The LORD had a special love for David, because David loved
and obeyed the LORD with all his heart.
II Samuel 5:13 "And David took [him] more concubines and wives
out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet
sons and daughters born to David."
One indication of the greatness of a king was the number of wives
that he had. It appears that, each person on this earth has a weakness
is some area. We would have to say that David's weakness was women.
David would have a very large family by all these wives and
concubines.
II Samuel 5:14 "And these [be] the names of those that were born
unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,"
Solomon, of course is the one who stands out in this. He would
follow his father on the throne as king of Israel. He was the son of
David by Bathsheba. Shammuah was, also, the son of Bathsheba and
David. The name "Shobab" means backsliding, or rebellious. He was,
also, the son of Bathsheba. Nathan seems to have not been involved in
the politics of government. He, too, was a son of David by Bathsheba.
The genealogy of Jesus from the book of Luke, which leads to Mary
shows Nathan as her ancestor.
II Samuel 5:15 "Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,"
II Samuel 5:16 "And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet."
These are all sons born of the wives of David. There seem to be
no listing of children by concubines. There are two more names listed
in Chronicles, that are not listed here. Perhaps, they were children
who died in their youth. Very little is known of the sons mentioned
above.
II 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 [of it], and went down to the hold."
Verse 17 is not in chronological order. The children were not
born, before this happened. This happens soon after David was anointed
king of all Israel. This hold was, probably, a cave that David was in.
The Philistines wasted no time coming against David. The fact that all
of Israel is united under David, would cause great concern to the
Philistines. They could easily fight a fragmented army by individual
families, but it would be much more difficult to come against all
Israel. This would be especially true with a strong leader like David.
II Samuel 5:18 "The Philistines also came and spread themselves
in the valley of Rephaim."
The valley of Rephaim is about three miles long by two miles
wide. "Rephaim" means giants. Og was a good example of the great size
of the earlier people of Rephaim. The Philistines were here to attack
David's army. They prefer to starve them out and make them come to
them, instead of going in to attack.
II Samuel 5:19 "And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I
go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And
the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the
Philistines into thine hand."
The one thing that I truly admire about David, is the fact that
he prays to the LORD, before making any military attack. In this case,
when he prays to the LORD, the LORD tells David that He will give
these Philistines to him. David will go against them, and David will
win.
II Samuel 5:20 "And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote
them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies
before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of
that place Baal-perazim."
"Baal-perazim" means possessor of breeches. It was the LORD who
went before David, and caused the victory here. When David is in the
will of God, there is no way for him to lose.
II Samuel 5:21 "And there they left their images, and David and
his men burned them."
These were images of false gods, they had brought to bless them
in battle. Idols and images have no power at all. That is pretty
obvious here, since David's men gathered them and burned them. It
appears that, the Philistines had run in defeat, here.
II Samuel 5:22 "And the Philistines came up yet again, and
spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim."
We find that the first battle had not killed a large number of
the Philistines, they had just driven them off. They have re-grouped,
and have come back to fight against David's army. David's army is
small, but the LORD is with them.
II Samuel 5:23 "And when David inquired of the LORD, he said,
Thou shalt not go up; [but] fetch a compass behind them, and come upon
them over against the mulberry trees."
Notice, David did not rely upon the message that he had in the
past from the LORD. He asked for guidance in this battle, as well. The
LORD has another plan this time. The Philistines would be expecting a
frontal attack, since that is the way David's men attacked the first
time. The compass means they slipped around to the rear of their army,
and used the mulberry trees for cover to get in close.
II Samuel 5:24 "And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a
going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir
thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host
of the Philistines."
The LORD will even give the sound of attack, when the mulberry
trees begin to rustle. If David follows the exact commands of the
LORD, the LORD will go before them and defeat the Philistines for
them.
II Samuel 5:25 "And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him;
and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer."
This just means that they killed the Philistines, who were in
wait to come into the battle, as well as those in the valley of
Rephaim. This was a large army, and it seemed to take a fairly long
time to destroy them. They were spread out over many miles. Victory
for David, and for us, comes, when we are in the perfect will of God.
Had David varied from the instructions the LORD gave him, he would
have been defeated. He followed the commands of the LORD to the
utmost, and won a very difficult battle.
2 Samuel 6 Questions
1. Where did all the tribes come to speak with David?
2. What did they say to him?
3. Their common enemy is the ____________.
4. What is the message in verse 2?
5. The elders of Israel anointed David _________ over Israel.
6. How long had David ruled in Hebron, before he was anointed king
over all Israel?
7. How old was David, when he began to reign?
8. How many years did he reign?
9. Who held Jerusalem at this time?
10. Why did they not make Hebron the capital of the Israelites?
11. What was another name used first for Jerusalem?
12. What does "Shalom" mean?
13. Where was Zion?
14. What honor would David show those, who slip into the city and
smite the Jebusites?
15. It appears one of the volunteers is ___________.
16. The fort at Millo became known as the _________.
17. How do we know the LORD protected David?
18. Who sent cedar trees, carpenters, and masons to build David a
house?
19. Why did the LORD have a special love for David?
20. Whose sons are the names in verse 14?
21. Which of these sons succeeds David on the throne?
22. What does "Shobab" mean?
23. What special name is associated with Nathan?
24. Who are the sons in verses 15 and 16?
25. What did the Philistines do, when they heard David was anointed
king?
26. Where did David go for protection?
27. Where did the Philistines set up camp?
28. What is one thing the author really admires David for?
29. What does "Baal-perazim" mean?
30. What did David's men do with the Philistine images?
31. When the Philistines re-grouped, what did they do?
32. What did the LORD tell David to do this time?
33. What were the results?
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