2 Samuel 5:23-24 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 5:23

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 5:23

Fetch a compass behind them - When they may be had, God will not work without using human means. By this he taught David caution, prudence, and dependence on the Divine strength. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 5:24

When thou hearest the sound of a going - If there had not been an evident supernatural interference, David might have thought that the sleight or ruse de guerre which he had used was the cause of his victory. By the going in the tops of the mulberry trees probably only a rustling among the leaves is intended. The Targum says, a noise; the Arabic has it, the noise of horses' hoofs. 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 5:22-23

( 1 Chronicles 14:13 , 1 Chronicles 14:14 ). ( THE VALLEY OF REPHAIM .) Renewed conflict. 1 . The life of a godly man on earth is a warfare which is perpetually renewed. Hardly has one conflict been passed through before another awaits him with old or new and more formidable foes: the world, the flesh, the devil; ignorance, idolatries, oppressions, sin and misery of all kinds ( 1 Samuel 17:1-11 ). Yea, each day the "good warfare" begins afresh. "The approach of duty is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:23

Thou shalt not go up. The attack in front is forbidden, and the answer shows that the priest with the ephod did more than give a mere affirmative or negative reply. For David receives full instructions. Taking advantage of the valleys, he is to creep round into the rear of the Philistines, and approach them under cover of a thicket of baca trees. Mulberry trees; Hebrew, baca trees. This suggests the idea that David's place of attack was the Baca valley ( Psalms 84:6 ), and that there... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:24

The sound of a going; Hebrew, a marching. Under the cover of this thicket David was to wait until he heard the sound as of the regular tramp of an army in the tops of the baca trees. It would be in the morning that the wind would shake the treetops, but the sound was to be something more than the soft whispers of a gentle breeze. A gale was to put them into sudden motion, and then the soldiers would know that their Jehovah had gone forth to battle, and David must immediately bestir ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:24

Divine omens of coming victory. "When thou hearest the sound of marching … then is the Lord gone out before thee," etc. (Revised Version). The Philistines were a brave and determined people, not easily beaten. Repulsed and scattered "as the breach of waters," they reunite and return. David, inquiring of God, receives directions differing from those given him on the former occasion. He is instructed not to "go up" to the higher ground occupied by the Philistines, but to make a circuit to... read more

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

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 5:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 5:24

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:11-25

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:22-23

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:23

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:24

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:24

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