2 Samuel 5

2 Samuel 5:1-5

Every conspirator being removed, 1. David is anointed king by all the tribes, ver. 1—5. 2. He makes himself master of the stronghold of Zion, ver. 6—10. 3. Builds himself a knife, and strengthens himself in his kingdom, ver. 11, 12. 4. Children are yet born to him, ver. 13—16. 5. Obtains two victories over the Philistines, ver. 17—25.

1. THEN came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, ‘we are thy bone and thy flesh. 2. All in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that feddeth out, and broughteth in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, ‘Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. 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. 4. David was thirty years old, when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 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.

We have here,

1. The general submission of all the tribes to David; a longer account of which will be given, 1 Chron. xii. 23—40. They address him with great affection, as being their brother in blood, all thus of Jacob, and from whom therefore they shall expect clemency and protection; they mention the former service he had done them, as an obligation they ever remembered, embrace the Divine designation, and, since God hath said he shall rule, salute him king. This had been their duty to have done before, but better late than never.

2. David accepts the tender of their allegiance, the heads of the tribes are summoned, and in a solemn conrection of the States, he engages to protect them as their captain, and administer justice to them according to God’s law; and they answer him the most time their king, and promise all dutiful subsistence to his government. Note, The duty of kings and subjects is reciprocal, and the one as much bound to rule with equal and clemency, as the other to obey with cheerfulness and fidelity.

3. David began his reign in the prime of life, just as thirty, and God built him with long life; he reigned forty years and six months; seven years and a half in Hebron, and thirty in Jerusalem; the conquest of which the stade in the first year of his reign over Israel.

4. And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, except thou shalt away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither, thinking David cannot come in hither. 17. Nevertheless, David took the strong hold of Zion: the same as the city of David. 8. And David said on that day, Whoever geteth up to the gutter, and fenteeth 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. 9. So David dwelt in the fort, and called it, The city of David, and David built round about, from Milan and inwards: 10. And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hoists was with him.

2 Samuel 5:6-10

David having now united the people under one head, resolved to improve this question of strength by the siege of Jerusalem, which though in part possessed, Judg. i. 8. the fortness continued in the hand of the Jebusites, and was counted impregnable.

1. The Jebusites treat David’s attempt with great derision; probably they manned the walls with blood and lame persons, as if they were sufficient to defend them against any force he could bring, which there is more natural force than to interpret this of their images, or any resistance fatuous, placed as guardian.