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
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
( 1 Chronicles 14:8-11 ). ( THE VALLEY OF REPHAIM .) Victory over the Philistines. ( References: 2 Samuel 8:1 , 2 Samuel 8:12 ; 2 Samuel 21:15 , 2 Samuel 21:18 , 2 Samuel 21:19 ; 2 Samuel 23:9 , 2 Samuel 23:11 , 2 Samuel 23:13 ; 1 Kings 2:39 .) "Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-Perazim" ( 2 Samuel 5:20 ). So long as David reigned over a single tribe and was at war with the house of Saul, he was left unmolested by the Philistines ( 1 Samuel... read more
The valley of Rephaim. This fruitful valley ( Isaiah 17:5 ) is about three miles in length, and two in breadth. Occupying it in vast numbers, the Philistines sent out bodies of men to plunder the whole country, while a sufficient force watched Jerusalem, intending to take it by famine. The Rephaim were an aboriginal race, first mentioned in Genesis 14:5 , and evidently in early times very widely spread in Palestine. The idea that they were giants has no more to be said in its favour than... read more
5:1-10:19 DAVID ESTABLISHES HIS KINGDOMConquest of Jerusalem (5:1-25)All the tribes of Israel now sent a representative force of soldiers to Hebron to present themselves to David, their new king (5:1-3; 1 Chronicles 12:23-40). The two-year civil war had now finished, and for the next five and a half years David reigned in Hebron over a unified Israel (4-5; cf. 2:10-11).David probably realized that so long as he remained in the territory of his own tribe in the south, the northern tribes would... read more
Rephaim . The descendants of the Nephilim through one "Rapha". See App-23 and App-25 . Compare 1 Chronicles 11:15 . read more
18. valley of Rephaim—that is, "of giants," a broad and fertile plain, which descends gradually from the central mountains towards the northwest. It was the route by which they marched against Jerusalem. The "hold" to which David went down "was some fortified place where he might oppose the progress of the invaders," and where he signally defeated them. read more
C. The Establishment of the Kingdom 5:17-8:18"As the story of David’s accession to kingship over Judah (2 Samuel 1:1 to 2 Samuel 3:5) parallels that of his accession to the throne of Israel (2 Samuel 3:6 to 2 Samuel 5:16), each concluding with a list of his sons (2 Samuel 3:2-5; 2 Samuel 5:13-16), so the account of his powerful reign (2 Samuel 5:17 to 2 Samuel 8:18) parallels that of his court history (chs. 9-20), each concluding with a roster of his officials (2 Samuel 8:15-18; 2 Samuel... read more
The first battle 5:17-21The battle described in these verses appears to be the one retold in 2 Samuel 23:13-17. It could have taken place between David’s anointing as king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5:17; cf. 2 Samuel 5:3) and his capture of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:6-9), [Note: Keil and Delitzsch, p. 323; and Merrill, Kingdom of . . ., pp. 237-38.] or perhaps shortly after he had conquered Jerusalem. [Note: J. Carl Laney, First and Second Samuel, p. 95.] The stronghold (2 Samuel 5:17) in the first... read more
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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