19 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
Key Events in 2 Samuel 5
- David crowned
- David takes Jerusalem
- David defeats the Philistines
- The Ark comes to Jerusalem
David crowned; 5:1-5. It is 1003 B.C. Finally David is acknowledged as king of a united Israel. He will rule for 33 years.
David takes Jerusalem: 5:6-9. The city of Jerusalem has been Jebusite territory since before the Exodus (Josh. 18:16, 28). It lies along the dividing line between Judah and Israel. It becomes his capital, and is neither of the rival north or south. By taking it from an enemy, David avoids any show of favoritism. It is mountainous, easily defended, and has a good water supply.
The Jebusites jeer when David attacks, shouting that blind and lame men could hold their city. David urges his men on to take the citadel, to destroy the “lame and blind” defenders!
Jerusalem is destined to become more than the capital city of a short-lived empire. It will become the Holy City, the center of worship for the Jews, and the city of the death, and resurrection, of Jesus.
David’s defeats the Philistines: 5:10-25. The Philistines now attack Israel in force, hoping to catch David and kill him. Both 2 Samuel and Chronicles carefully report David’s attitude going into the battle. He “inquires of God,” and is careful to follow the Lord’s directions. The Philistines are defeated.
19 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
The war with Philistia involves a series of battles, and ultimately leads to an invasion by David of Philistine territory. The victories won are decisive, and only skirmishes are later fought with this ancient enemy.
21 And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away. 22 Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. 24 And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 25 And David did so, as the Lord commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.
