2 Samuel 5:19-25 NIV

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 5:19

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:21

And they left their images ,.... Their idol gods, which they brought with them to protect and defend them, and give them success; perhaps in imitation of the Israelites, who formerly brought the ark of God into their camp against the Philistines, 1 Samuel 4:3 ; and it appears to have been the custom of other countries, in later times, to bring their gods with them to battle F24 "Omnigenumque Deum", &c.; Virgil. Aeneid. l. 8. : and David and his men burnt them : that is, his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:22

And the Philistines came up yet again ,.... And, as Josephus says F26 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 4. sect. 1. , with an army three times larger than the former: and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim ; in the same place where they were before, 2 Samuel 5:20 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:23

And when David inquired of the Lord ,.... For though he had success before, and got the victory, he would not engage again with them without having the mind and will of God, on whom he knew victory alone depended: he said, thou shalt not go up ; that is, directly, and in a straight line: but fetch a compass behind them ; and get to the rear of them, instead of falling upon them in the front: and come upon them over against the mulberry trees : which grew in the valley of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:24

And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees ,.... Of a going of the wind on the tops of these trees, making a rustling upon them, and that in such a manner as to resemble the going of men, or march of armies, as if they were moving in the air over the tops of the mulberry trees; which Jarchi and R. Isaiah interpret of angels being sent of God, and moving at that time to help David, and destroy the Philistines; so the Targum on 1 Chronicles 14:15 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:25

And David did so as the Lord commanded him ,.... In all things he was obedient to the command of God; Saul was not: he got behind the army of the Philistines, as he was directed; and when he heard the sound in the mulberry trees, he arose and fell upon his enemies: and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer ; or from Gibeon, as in 1 Chronicles 14:16 ; a city in the tribe of Benjamin, near to which this battle was fought, and where the pursuit began, which was carried... 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

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:25

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

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

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