2 Samuel 5

1 Then all [every single one] the tribes [clans, families] of Israel [God’s chosen people] came to David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] at Hebron [a city in Palestine, a place of alliance] and said, “Here we are [look, behold], your own [bone and flesh] flesh and blood [relatives, kin]. word study 2 Even in times past [previously, in the past], while Saul [Shaul, the king of Israel] was king over us, you were the one who led [brought out and brought in, commanded] Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] out and brought them back. And to you the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said, ‘You will shepherd [care for, tend to, rule over] My people Israel [the nation of Israel, God’s chosen], and you will be ruler [leader, commander] over them [as their king].’” word study 3 So all [every one of] the elders [responsible men, leaders] of Israel came to the king [royal person, ruler] at Hebron [a place in Palestine], where King David made [cut, established] with them a covenant [promise, agreement] before [in the presence of] the LORD [Yehovah, God]. And they anointed [rubbed oil on, set apart] him king [ruler, leader] over [above, in charge of] Israel. word study 4 David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] was thirty years old when he became [to reign, to rule as king] king, and he reigned [to advise or counsel, to rule as a king] forty [a period of testing or trial] years. word study 5 In Hebron [the city of alliance, a place of covenant] he reigned [as king, ruled with authority] over Judah [the tribe of praise, a people of worship] seven years and six [a number of imperfection, humanity] months, and in Jerusalem [the city of peace, a place of wholeness] he reigned [exercised sovereign power, ruled with wisdom] thirty-three [a number of growth, maturity] years over all [every tribe, every person] Israel [the people of God, those who wrestle with God] and Judah [the tribe of praise, a people of worship]. word study 6 Now the king [ruler, monarch] and his men marched to Jerusalem [the city of peace, capital of Palestine] against the Jebusites [inhabitants of Jebus, descendants of Canaan] who inhabited [dwelled, lived in] the land [the earth, territory]. The Jebusites said to David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel]: “You will never [not at all, under no circumstances] get in here [enter this place, come into the city]. Even the blind [physically or spiritually unable to see] and lame [disabled, weak] can repel [drive away, defeat] you.” For they thought [believed, considered], “David [the king, leader] cannot [is not able to] get in here [enter this place, conquer the city].” word study 7 Nevertheless, David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] captured [to seize, take control of] the fortress [stronghold, castle] of Zion [a mountain in Jerusalem, the city of God] (that is [namely], the City [town, settlement] of David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel]). word study 8 On that day he said, “Whoever attacks [conquers, defeats] the Jebusites [inhabitants of Jebus, the early name for Jerusalem] must use the water shaft [watercourse, gutter] to reach the lame [physically disabled, crippled] and blind [unable to see, spiritually blind] who are despised [hated, rejected] by David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel].” That is why it is said, “The blind [those unable to see] and the lame [those with physical disabilities] will never enter [come into, approach] the palace [house, temple, the dwelling place of a king].” word study 9 So David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] took up residence [to dwell, sit, or abide] in the fortress [a stronghold, a castle] and called [to call out to someone or something] it the City [a place with a wall or a watchman] of David. He built [to establish, repair, or construct] it up all the way around [surrounding, encompassing], from the [Millo, or rampart] supporting terraces inward. word study 10 And David [went on, prospering] became greater [in power and influence] and greater [in wealth and fame], for the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler] of Hosts [armies, celestial and terrestrial] was with [supporting and guiding] him. word study 11 Now Hiram [king of the city] king of Tyre [a major Phoenician city] sent envoys [messengers, representatives] to David, along with cedar [a strong and durable tree] logs, carpenters [skilled woodworkers], and stonemasons [artisans of stone], and they built [constructed, established] a palace [a grand house, a royal dwelling] for David. word study 12 And David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] realized [perceived, knew, understood] that the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] had established [set up, appointed, confirmed] him as king [a royal person, ruler] over Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants] and had exalted [lifted up, raised] his kingdom [a ruler’s power or territory] for the sake of [because of, on account of] His people [a nation] Israel [the descendants of Jacob]. word study 13 After he had arrived [come from, moved from] from Hebron, David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] took [added, acquired] more concubines [slave women, secondary wives] and wives [women, female partners] from Jerusalem, and more sons [male children, descendants] and daughters [female children, women] were born [begotten, brought forth] to him. word study 14 These [specific, particular] are the names [identities, reputations] of the children [sons, offspring] born [brought into existence, given life] to him in Jerusalem [the city of peace, capital of Judah]: Shammua [a son of David born in Jerusalem], Shobab [rebellious, son of Caleb], Nathan [giver, prophet], Solomon [peaceful, successor of David], word study 15 Ibhar [a son of King David], Elishua [born during David’s reign], Nepheg [one of David’s sons, a member of the royal family], Japhia [a son of King David, also a place in Palestine], word study 16 Elishama [a man of God], Eliada [son of God], and Eliphelet [God is deliverance, Eliphalet]. word study 17 When the Philistines [a non-Israelite people, immigrants from other places] heard that David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] had been anointed [set apart, consecrated] king [a royal ruler, a leader] over Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people], they all [every single one, the entire nation] went in search of him [to find, to capture]; but David learned of this [heard, received news] and went down [descended, moved to a lower place] to the stronghold [a fortress, a place of safety, a net of protection]. word study 18 Now the Philistines [a group of non-Semitic people, immigrants from other places] had come [approached, entered the area] and spread out [went in every direction, dispersed themselves] in the Valley [a lowland area, a region of conflict] of Rephaim [a place of giants, named after the Raphaite giants]. word study 19 So David inquired [sought guidance, asked for direction] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], “Should I go up [ascend, rise] against the Philistines [a non-Israelite people, immigrants from other places]? Will You deliver [give, put] them into my hand [power, control, strength]?” “Go [proceed, move forward],” replied the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], “for I will surely [certainly, without a doubt] deliver [give, put] the Philistines [a non-Israelite people, immigrants from other places] into your hand [power, control, strength].” word study 20 So David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] went to Baal-perazim [a place of breaking through], where he defeated [struck down, overcame] the Philistines [enemies of God’s people] and said, “Like a bursting flood [a sudden, powerful outpouring of water], the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has burst out [broken forth, divided] against my enemies [those who oppose me] before me [in my presence, on my behalf].” So he called that place Baal-perazim [the Lord of breaking through]. word study 21 There [at that place, in that location] the Philistines [enemies of God’s people] abandoned [forsaken, left behind] their idols [images, false gods], and David [the king of Israel, a man after God’s heart] and his men [soldiers, warriors] carried [took away, lifted] them away [removed, burned, as an act of worship]. word study 22 Once again [a second time, still] the Philistines [a group of non-Semitic people, immigrants from other places] came up [to ascend, went up] and spread out [scattered, dispersed themselves] in the Valley [lowland area, plain] of Rephaim [a group of giants, the Raphaite]. word study 23 So David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] inquired [to ask, seek guidance] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], who answered, “Do not [indicating absence or negation] march straight up [to ascend, go up], but circle around [to turn, surround] behind them [in the rear, after] and attack them in front of [opposite, facing] the balsam trees [a shrub producing valuable sap]. word study 24 As soon as you hear [with attention and obedience] the sound [voice, noise] of marching [stepping, going] in the tops [heads, chief parts] of the balsam trees [mulberry trees, a valuable shrub], move quickly [bestir yourself, go forward], because this will mean [indicate, signify] that the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has marched out [gone out, come out] before you [to your face, in your presence] to strike [smite, hit] the camp [army, host] of the Philistines [a group of people from the region of Philistia].” word study 25 So David [as a faithful servant] did as the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] had commanded [given orders, appointed] him, and he struck down [smiting, defeating] the Philistines [a non-Israelite people] all the way from Gibeon [a city in Benjamin] to Gezer [a city in Ephraim, a portion]. word study