2 Samuel 5:17-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:17-25

The particular service for which David was raised up was to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, 2 Sam. 3:18. This therefore divine Providence, in the first place, gives him an opportunity of accomplishing. Two great victories obtained over the Philistines we have here an account of, by which David not only balanced the disgrace and retrieved the loss Israel had sustained in the battle wherein Saul was slain, but went far towards the total subduing of those vexatious neighbours, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:17

But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel ,.... That the civil war in the nation was now at an end, which they hoped would have issued in their destruction, and therefore lay still and quiet; but now being united under the government of David, and he hereby greatly strengthened and become powerful; and hearing also of his success against Jerusalem, and the friendship he had contracted with Hiram king of Tyre, they thought it was high time to bestir... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:18

The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. Or "of the giants", as Joshua 15:8 ; which lay to the west of Jerusalem; of which; see Gill on Joshua 15:8 ; the Philistines spreading themselves in it, shows that they were very numerous. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:19

And David inquired of the Lord ,.... By Abiathar, and the Urim and Thummim, in the ephod he had on: saying, shall I go up to the Philistines ? who by this time were gone from the valley to an higher place, to Mount Perazim, as in Isaiah 28:21 , wilt thou deliver them into my hand ? here two questions are put together, and an answer returned to both, contrary to a notion of the Jews; see Gill on 1 Samuel 23:11 , and the Lord said to David, go up, for I will doubtless deliver... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:20

And David came to Baalperazim ,.... As it was after called, for here it has its name by anticipation, and whither the Philistines were come from the valley of Rephaim; see 1 Chronicles 14:11 ; which was at no great distance, the one being the hill, to which the other was the valley, computed to be about three miles from Jerusalem, in the way to Bethlehem F21 Bunting's Travels, &c.; p. 138. , between which places were two hours' travels F23 Maundrell's Journey from Aleppo,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 5:17

The Philistines came up to seek David - Ever since the defeat of the Israelites and the fall of Saul and his sons, the Philistines seem to have been in undisturbed possession of the principal places in the land of Israel; now, finding that David was chosen king by the whole nation, they thought best to attack him before his army got too numerous, and the affairs of the kingdom were properly settled. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 5:19

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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 5:20

The Lord hath broken forth - He very properly attributes the victory of Jehovah, without whose strength and counsel he could have done nothing. Baal-perazim - The plain or chief of breaches, because of the breach which God made in the Philistine army; and thus he commemorated the interference of the Lord. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:11-25

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:17

But when the Philistines heard. After the battle of Gilboa the Philistines became the virtual rulers of much of the country west of the Jordan, and probably even David and Judah paid them tribute. On its eastern bank, though Abner kept them from molesting Ishbosheth's kingdom, yet the rule of Saul's house in Ephraim and Benjamin must have been nominal only, and the Philistines would have seen him with pleasure wasting his strength in civil war. After Ishbosheth's death they had tightened... read more

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