2 Samuel 5:19 Commentary

How far Abner's deserting the house of Saul, his murder, and the murder of Ish-bosheth, might contribute to the perfecting of the revolution, and the establishing of David as king over all Israel, does not appear; but, it should seem, that happy change followed presently thereupon, which in this chapter we have an account of. Here is, I. David anointed king by all the tribes (Sa2 5:1-5). II. Making himself master of the strong-hold of Zion (Sa2 5:6-10). III. Building himself a house and strengthening himself in his kingdom (Sa2 5:11, Sa2 5:12). IV. His children that were born after this (Sa2 5:13-16). V. His victories over the Philistines (Sa2 5:17-25).

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 5 In this chapter we have an account of all the tribes of Israel coming to Hebron, and anointing David king over them, Sa2 5:1; of his expedition against the Jebusites in Jerusalem, and taking from them the strong hold of Zion, Sa2 5:6; of his building an house for himself, and of his building up his family, by taking more wives and concubines, and having more children, whose names are given, Sa2 5:11; and of an invasion of the land by the Philistines, and David's victory over them, Sa2 5:17.

And they left their images,.... Their idol gods, which they brought with them to protect and defend them, and give them success; perhaps in imitation of the Israelites, who formerly brought the ark of God into their camp against the Philistines, Sa1 4:3; and it appears to have been the custom of other countries, in later times, to bring their gods with them to battle (x): and David and his men burnt them: that is, his men burnt them at his command, Ch1 14:12; agreeably to the law of God, that so no profit might be made of them, Deu 7:5; the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, and others, render it, "and took them", or "carried them away" (y); as they might do, and, after they had exposed them in triumph, then burnt them. (x) "Omnigenumque Deum", &c. Virgil. Aeneid. l. 8. (y) , Sept. "tulit", V. L. Tigurine version, Montanus; "sustulit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

After that [the killing of Goliath] he never entered on a war without seeking counsel of the Lord. Thus he was victorious in all wars, and even to his last years [he] was ready to fight. And when war arose with the Philistines, he joined battle with their fierce troops, being desirous of winning renown, while careless of his own safety. But this is not the only kind of fortitude which is worthy of note. We consider their fortitude glorious, who, with greatness of mind, “through faith stopped the mouth of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong,” They did not gain a victory in common with many, surrounded by comrades and aided by the legions, but [they] won their triumph alone over their treacherous foes by the mere courage of their own souls.

The elders of all the tribes of Israel come and anoint David king over all Israel, Sa2 5:1-5. He goes against the Jebusites, and takes the strong hold of Zion, and afterwards the city itself; which is called the city of David, Sa2 5:6-9. David's prosperity, and friendship with Hiram, king of Tyre, Sa2 5:10-12. He takes more concubines, and begets several sons and daughters, Sa2 5:13-16. The Philistines gather together against him in the valley of Rephaim; he defeats them; they abandon their idols, and David and his men burn them, Sa2 5:17-21. They assemble once more in the valley of Rephaim, and David smites them from Geba to Gazer, Sa2 5:22-25.

David inquired of the Lord - He considered himself only the captain of the Lord's host, and therefore would not strike a stroke without the command of his Superior.

THE TRIBES ANOINT DAVID KING OVER ISRAEL. (Sa2 5:1-5) Then came all the tribes of Israel--a combined deputation of the leading authorities in every tribe. [See on Ch1 11:1.] David possessed the first and indispensable qualification for the throne; namely, that of being an Israelite (Deu 17:15). Of his military talent he had furnished ample proof. And the people's desire for his assumption of the government of Israel was further increased by their knowledge of the will and purpose of God, as declared by Samuel (Sa1 16:11-13).

II. The Government of David Over All Israel in the Time of Its Strength And Glory - 2 Samuel 5 After the death of Ishbosheth, David was anointed in Hebron by all the tribes as king over the whole of Israel (Sa2 5:1-5). He then proceeded to attack the Jebusites in Jerusalem, conquered their fortress Zion, and made Jerusalem the capital of his kingdom; fortifying it still further, and building a palace in it (Sa2 5:6-16), after he had twice inflicted a defeat upon the Philistines (Sa2 5:17-25). But in order that the chief city of his kingdom and the seat of his own palace might also be made the religious centre of the whole nation as a congregation of Jehovah, he first of all brought the ark of the covenant out of its place of concealment, and had it conveyed in a festal procession to Zion, and deposited there in a tent which had been specially prepared for it, as a place of worship for the whole congregation (2 Samuel 6). He then resolved to erect for the Lord in Jerusalem a temple fitted for His name; and the Lord gave him in return the promise of the eternal perpetuity of his throne (2 Samuel 7). To this there is appended a cursory account of David's wars with the neighbouring nations, by which not only his own sovereignty, but the Israelitish kingdom of God, was raised into a commanding power among the nations and kingdoms of the world. In connection with all this, David still maintained his affection and fidelity towards the fallen royal family of Saul, and showed compassion towards the last remaining descendant of that family (Sa2 9:1-13). This account of the unfolding of the power and glory of the kingdom of Israel, through the instrumentality of David and during his reign, is so far arranged chronologically, that all the events and all the enterprises of David mentioned in this section occurred in the first half of his reign over the whole of the covenant nation. The chronological arrangement, however, is not strictly adhered to, so far as the details are concerned; but the standpoint of material resemblance is so far connected with it, that all the greater wars of David are grouped together in 2 Samuel 8 (see the introduction to 2 Samuel 8). It is obvious from this, that the plan which the historian adopted was first of all to describe the internal improvement of the Israelitish kingdom of God by David, and then to proceed to the external development of his power in conflict with the opposing nations of the world. David Anointed King over All Israel. Jerusalem Taken, and Made the Capital of the Kingdom. Victories over the Philistines. 2 Samuel 5.