2 Samuel 5:5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:1-5

Here is, I. The humble address of all the tribes to David, beseeching him to take upon him the government (for they were now as sheep having no shepherd), and owning him for their king. Though David might by no means approve the murder of Ish-bosheth, yet he might improve the advantages he gained thereby, and accept the applications made to him thereupon. Judah had submitted to David as their king above seven years ago, and their ease and happiness, under his administration, encouraged the... read more

John Gill

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

In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months ,.... So long the kingdom of Israel continued in the house of Saul after his death; and by this it appears that David was near thirty eight years of age when the elders of Israel came and made him their king: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah ; which in all made forty years and six months, see 1 Kings 2:11 ; upon his being made king over all the tribes, as soon as he had taken the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:1-10

The facts are: 1 . The tribes of Israel come to Hebron to formally acknowledge David as rightful king. 2 . They assign three reasons for their united action. 3 . A solemn league being made between David and the tribes, they anoint him king over Israel. 4 . The question of the crown being settled, David applies himself to the acquisition of Jerusalem as the seat of government. 5 . Being proudly defied by the Jebusites, on account of the strength of their position, he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:2-12

( 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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 5:4-5

2 Samuel 5:4-5. David was thirty years old when he began to reign At this age the Levites were at first appointed to begin their ministrations, Numbers 4:3. About this age the Son of David entered upon his public ministry, Luke 3:23. And it is the age when men come to their full maturity of strength and judgment. In Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years By this it appears it was immediately after his third unction that he made the attempt upon Jerusalem, mentioned in the next verse,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:1-25

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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Samuel 5:1-12

3. David’s acceptance by all Israel 5:1-12In 1004 B.C. David became king of all Israel and Judah. [Note: See Merrill, p. 243.] This was his third anointing (cf. 1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Samuel 2:4). The people acknowledged David’s previous military leadership of all Israel, as well as God’s choice of him to shepherd His people as their king. Thus David’s kingship stood on two legs: his divine election and his human recognition."In the ancient East, shepherd at an early date became a title of honor... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 5:1-25

David is anointed King, captures Jerusalem, and smites the Philistines1. There was no longer any member of the house of Saul who could take the lead.2. Feed] lit. ’act as shepherd to’ (cp. 2 Samuel 7:7;). ’Shepherd’ became a technical term for a ruler (Jeremiah 3:15). The figure is developed in Ezekiel 34.4. The capture of Jerusalem marks a most important point in the history of Israel. Hitherto, the national life had had no real centre; the residence of a judge or a prophet or a king would be... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Samuel 5:5

(5) Seven years and six months.—The six months is also mentioned in 2 Samuel 2:11; 1 Chronicles 3:4, but, as being only the fraction of a year, is generally omitted in the summary of the length of his reign, as in 2 Samuel 5:4; 1 Chronicles 29:27. It was the habit of the sacred historians either to omit such fractions or else to count them as whole years, thus introducing a certain element of indefiniteness into the chronology, which is very marked in the parallel narratives of the kings of... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 5:1-9

CHAPTER VI.DAVID KING OF ALL ISRAEL.2 Samuel 5:1-9.AFTER seven and a half years of opposition,* David was now left without a rival, and the representatives of the whole tribes came to Hebron to anoint him king. They gave three reasons for their act, nearly all of which; however, would have been as valid at the death of Saul as they were at this time. (*There is difficulty in adjusting all the dates. In chap. 2:10 (2 Samuel 2:10), it is said that Ishbosheth reigned two years. The usual... read more

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