And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel ,.... By the prosperity and success which attended him in everything he set his hand to: and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake ; for their advantage and glory more than for his own. read more
And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron ,.... He had six when he was at Hebron, 2 Samuel 3:2 , and now he took more, which was not to his honour, and contrary to the law of God, Deuteronomy 17:17 ; the concubines were a sort of half wives, as the word may signify, or secondary ones, and under the others: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David ; besides those in Hebron mentioned in 2 Samuel 3:2 . read more
David took him more concubines - He had, in all conscience, enough before; he had, in the whole, eight wives and ten concubines. That dispensation permitted polygamy, but from the beginning it was not so; and as upon an average there are about fourteen males born to thirteen females, polygamy is unnatural, and could never have entered into the original design of God. read more
( 1 Chronicles 11:2 , 1 Chronicles 11:9 ; 1 Chronicles 14:2 ). ( HEBRON .) The shepherd king. This is the first occasion on which we find the occupation of a shepherd made use of to describe the office of a king. Jacob, who had "fed Laban's flocks," spoke of "the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel" ( Genesis 49:24 ; Genesis 48:15 ); Moses, who had "kept the flock of Jethro," prayed that Jehovah would "set a man over the congregation" as his successor, so that they might not be "as... read more
The facts are: 1 . The King of Tyre, being friendly with David, supplies him with means of building his house on Mount Zion. 2 . David regards the varied successes of his enterprises as confirmation of his belief that he was indeed appointed by God to reign over Israel. 3 . He establishes a court on a larger scale, after Oriental style. 4 . The Philistines, hearing of his accession to the throne, prepare for an attack upon him, whereupon he seeks guidance of God, defeats them... read more
And David perceived. We may well believe that David had many seasons of despondency and misgiving after he became king. His subjects were brave and energetic, but turbulent, unwilling to obey, and but half-civilized. His election had put an end to civil war at home, but only to arouse the hatred of the enemies who had long oppressed them. The tragical fate, too, of Saul, who, after so many heroic struggles, had seen the earlier glories of his reign fade away, and had sought deliverance from... read more
( 1 Chronicles 14:1 ) Hiram, King of Tyre. Hiram was another of those heathen princes with whom David stood in friendly relation (Achish of Gath; the King of Moab, 1 Samuel 22:3 ; Talmai of Geshur, 2 Samuel 3:3 ; Tel, or Tou, of Hamath, 2 Samuel 8:9 ; Joram, or Hadoram, his son, 1 Chronicles 18:10 ; Nahash, the Ammonite king of Rabbah, 2 Samuel 10:1 , 2 Samuel 10:2 ; Shobi, his son, 2 Samuel 17:27 ). He was king of "the strong (fortified) city, Tyre" ( Joshua 19:29 );... read more
Perception of Divine agency and purpose. These words are introduced after the narration of the taking of the fortress of Zion, the erection of additional buildings around it, and especially the building of a royal residence for David. It was the establishment of a metropolis for the whole kingdom, and both evidenced and promoted a settled state of things. David's thoughts upon the matter are given in the text. He recognized that it was God who made him king, and that his exaltation was for... read more
David took him more concubines. Thus with increase of power came also the increased gratification of David's weakness and sin. Well for him would it have been if, like Saul, he had been content with one wife. But this enlargement of his harem was gradual, and the list includes all the sons born at Jerusalem. Of these four, namely, Shammuah, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon. were his children by Bathsheba (see 1 Chronicles 3:5 , where the names are differently spelt). Besides a variation in the... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:11-16
Here is, I. David's house built, a royal palace, fit for the reception of the court he kept and the homage that was paid to him, 2 Sam. 5:11. The Jews were husbandmen and shepherds, and did not much addict themselves either to merchandise or manufactures; and therefore Hiram, king of Tyre, a wealthy prince, when he sent to congratulate David on his accession to the throne, offered him workmen to build him a house. David thankfully accepted the offer, and Hiram's workmen built David a house to... read more