2 Samuel 5

2Sa 5:1

ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL CAME TO DAVID: "What a wonderful moment, typical of the final restoration of the tribes of Judah and Ephraim to the Lord Jesus in the imminent future. All Israel turned to one man as all mankind shall ultimately seek his greater Son. This action of the tribes in David's time introduced a 3-day celebration of joy (1Ch 15:39,40). Some interesting details are added in 1Ch 15, of the manner in which the various tribes on both sides of the Jordan came to Hebron, and the joyful festivities on that occasion. The consummation to which events in Yahweh's Providence were directed, had now come. Saul, Jonathan, Abner and Ishbosheth were dead. Many had already turned to David; the Philistines and possibly other enemies were restless and threatening; and to acknowledge David as king was to the advantage to all. He had been designated by Yahweh as their king, captain, shepherd, and now the time had come when all Israel should accept him as such" (GEM).

YOUR OWN FLESH AND BLOOD: Cp Gen 2:23 ("This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh"); Luk 24:39: "Look at my hands and my feet."

2Sa 5:2

SHEPHERD: "Feed" in KJV. The Good Shepherd: Eze 34:23; Joh 10; Heb 13:20.

2Sa 5:3

ALL THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL HAD COME TO KING DAVID: "Your troops will be willing on your day of battle" (Psa 110:3).

2Sa 5:5

JERUSALEM: Which now begins to grow in importance, a political and religious center (as in time of Melchizedek).

2Sa 5:6

JEBUSITES: Sig "trampled" or "trodden down", as in Luk 21:24: "Jerusalem will be trampled on [jebus!] by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."

2Sa 5:8

See 1Ch 11:6: Joab accomplished this.

WATER SHAFT: "Tsinnor"; used only twice; the "cataract" or "waterfalls" of Psa 42:7. From rt "hollow" (Str).

2Sa 5:11

HIRAM: The father of the Hiram who was Solomon's friend.

CARPENTERS AND STONEMASONS: Note the skill of the Phoenicians in 1Ki 5:7.

2Sa 5:13

MORE CONCUBINES AND WIVES: Ct Deu 17:17.

2Sa 5:14

Vv 14-16: The 13 sons of David, born in Jerusalem:

	2Sa 5:14-16	1Ch 3:5-9	1Ch 14:4-7
1.	Shammah	Shimea (textual corruption)	Shammah
2.	Shobab	Shobab	Shobab
3.	Nathan	Nathan	Nathan
4.	Solomon	Solomon	Solomon
5.	Ibhar	Ibhar	Ibhar
6.	Elishua	Elishama (textual corruption)	Elishua
7.	(died in infancy?)	Eliphelet	Elpalet
8.	(died in infancy?)	Nogah	Nogah
9.	Nepheg	Nepheg	Nepheg
10.	Japhia	Japhia	Japhia
11.	Elishama	Elishama	Elishama
12.	Eliada	Eliada	Beeliada (Baal, in good sense of "Lord", substituted for "El")
13.	Eliphelet	Eliphelet	Eliphelet

2Sa 5:18

VALLEY OF REPHAIM: Consistently translated in NIV. AV has "valley of the giants" (Jos 15:18; 18:16; Isa 17:5) or "valley of the Rephaim" (2Sa 5:18,22; 23:13; 1Ch 11:15; 14:9; Isa 17:5). Southwest of Jerusalem, near to valley of Hinnom.

2Sa 5:20

BAAL PERAZIM: "Lord (here = Yahweh) of breaches".

AS WATERS BREAK OUT: A flash flood?

2Sa 5:21

THEIR IDOLS: Prob brought into battle as talismans, to guarantee victory (cp 1Sa 4:3).

CARRIED THEM OFF: "The purpose of carrying the Philistine idols away from the battlefield (cp 2Ch 25:14) was so that, at David's command and in accordance with Mosaic prescription (Deu 7:5,25), they could be burned up (1Ch 14:12)" (EBC).

2Sa 5:22

VALLEY OF REPHAIM: See v 18n.

2Sa 5:23

SO DAVID INQUIRED OF THE LORD: Not presuming on the previous advice of v 19, David inquires again.

2Sa 5:24

Don't let the "wind of God" pass by without putting up your sail!

SOUND OF MARCHING: Yahweh's army of heaven going into battle.

BALSAM: Heb "baca" = weeping -- prob because it exudes a gum-like substance. "Probably the black mulberry, and is so translated in RSV, NEB, JB, and NASB" (WyE).