8. Whosoever getteth up to the gutter—This is thought by some to mean a subterranean passage; by others a spout through which water was poured upon the fire which the besiegers often applied to the woodwork at the gateways, and by the projections of which a skilful climber might make his ascent good; a third class render the words, "whosoever dasheth them against the precipice" ( :-). read more
3. David’s acceptance by all Israel 5:1-12In 1004 B.C. David became king of all Israel and Judah. [Note: See Merrill, p. 243.] This was his third anointing (cf. 1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Samuel 2:4). The people acknowledged David’s previous military leadership of all Israel, as well as God’s choice of him to shepherd His people as their king. Thus David’s kingship stood on two legs: his divine election and his human recognition."In the ancient East, shepherd at an early date became a title of honor... read more
B. The Unification of the Kingdom 3:6-5:16The writer also documented God’s blessing on David in this record of how David wisely unified the nation of Israel and became the leader of all 12 tribes."The story of how David became king of all Israel follows, in most essentials, the same outline already established in the account of his accession to kingship over Judah (2 Samuel 1:1 to 2 Samuel 3:5). Both begin with a warrior trying to curry David’s favor (an unnamed Amalekite, 2 Samuel 1:1-13;... read more
David is anointed King, captures Jerusalem, and smites the Philistines1. There was no longer any member of the house of Saul who could take the lead.2. Feed] lit. ’act as shepherd to’ (cp. 2 Samuel 7:7;). ’Shepherd’ became a technical term for a ruler (Jeremiah 3:15). The figure is developed in Ezekiel 34.4. The capture of Jerusalem marks a most important point in the history of Israel. Hitherto, the national life had had no real centre; the residence of a judge or a prophet or a king would be... read more
(8) Getteth up to the gutter.—The sense of this passage is obscure, partly from the difficulty of the Hebrew construction, partly from the uncertainty of the meaning of the word translated gutter. This word occurs elsewhere only in Psalms 42:7, where it is translated waterspouts. The ancient versions differ in their interpretations, but the most probable sense is watercourses, such as were connected with the precipices around Mount Zion. The two clauses also are unnecessarily transposed in our... read more
CHAPTER VI.DAVID KING OF ALL ISRAEL.2 Samuel 5:1-9.AFTER seven and a half years of opposition,* David was now left without a rival, and the representatives of the whole tribes came to Hebron to anoint him king. They gave three reasons for their act, nearly all of which; however, would have been as valid at the death of Saul as they were at this time. (*There is difficulty in adjusting all the dates. In chap. 2:10 (2 Samuel 2:10), it is said that Ishbosheth reigned two years. The usual... read more
2. David’s Conquest of Zion and Victory over the Philistines CHAPTER 5:6-25 1. David’s conquest of Zion (2 Samuel 5:6-10 ) 2. Hiram King of Tyre (2 Samuel 5:11-12 ) 3. David’s additional concubines and wives (2 Samuel 5:13-15 ) 4. The victory over the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:17-25 ) Zion is closely linked with David’s anointing as king over all Israel. Here 1 Chronicles 11:0 must be read for a more complete account of what took place. Jerusalem is now to become the capital of the... read more
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 {d} come into the house.(d) The idols should no longer enter into that place. read more
Yet the sovereign wisdom of God has been over all these matters, and David's way becomes clear without his fighting for it. God's time had now come for the voluntary submission of the other tribes to David's dominion. They came to him at Hebron, presenting three reasons for their recognizing him as king (v.2). First, they were related to him as Israelites; secondly, thy knew his reputation, even while Saul was king, that it was David who was really the leader of Israel's forces; and thirdly,... read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Samuel 5:8
2 Samuel 5:8. Whosoever, &c.— Dr. Kennicott observes, that the Hebrew word צנור zinnor, gutter, occurs but once more in the Bible, and does not seem commonly understood in this place. The English version calls it a gutter; the Vulgate, pipes; Vatablus, channels; Junius and Tremellius, a common sewer; Poole, a pipe for water; and Bochart, a bed or channel of a river. But most interpreters agree in making the words signify something hollow, and in applying it to water; which might well be... read more