II Samuel 5, The City of David

After the death of Saul, David continues to collect allies and solidify control of Israel.

2 Samuel 5: 1-3, Israel submits to David

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD said to you, 

`You will shepherd my people Israel, 

and you will become their ruler.'"

When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.

 

Israel comes together at Hebron to make David king of all twelve tribes

2 Samuel 5: 4-5, The Reign of David

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

David's reign is summarized. He will shortly conquer the city that will be called, for all time, the City of David.

2 Samuel 5: 6-8, Capture of Zion

The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here."

Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David.

On that day, David said, "Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those `lame and blind' who are David's enemies." That is why they say, "The `blind and lame' will not enter the palace." 

David has been living in Hebron.  But now he conquers Jerusalem and lives there.  

The Hebrew passage about the blind and lame is unclear and the NIV translation is one of several different options. Apparently the city was so well defended that the blind and lame could defend it but, in mockery of the blind and lame, David's men entered through a water shaft.

(The Hebrew translated "supporting terraces" by the NIV is unclear. It is literally "the Millo" and is mentioned several times in the Old Testament history.  Wikipedia has an article on it here and the Biblical Archealogical Society has an online article on it here.)

2 Samuel 5: 9-10, The City of David

David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the supporting terraces inward. And he became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him.

The city David has conquered is now claimed as his capital and the center of power in Israel. Jerusalem becomes, for all ages, the City of David.

2 Samuel 5: 11-12, Hiram helps build a palace for David

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

Hiram recognizes David's reign and seeks alliance with David.

2 Samuel 5: 13-16, More concubines, more sons

After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

 

This is a summary paragraph. As king, David has more power, thus more wives and more children. The birth of Solomon will be described in more detail later.

2 Samuel 5: 17-21, Victory of the Philistines

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.

Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" 

The LORD answered him, "Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you."

So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, the LORD has broken out against my enemies before me." So that place was called Baal Perazim. [9]

The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.

The Philistines see an old enemy and seek to bring him down. But David wins in a battle at a place later called Baal Perazim which means (according to the NIV footnotes) "the lord who breaks out."

2 Samuel 5:22-25, The Philistines again

Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army."

So David did as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

The Philistines return and once again, YHWH guides David to victory but this time in a different way. Eventually David drives the Philistines out of central Canaan.