2 Samuel 5
Lutheran reading notes
In 2 Samuel chapter 5, the account continues the story of the reign of King David and establishment of his kingdom. Lutheran interpretation frequently highlights how these events reveal both human sinfulness and God’s faithful promises. The chapter demonstrates the tension between human failure and God’s ongoing grace working through history.
1
Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we {are} thy bone and thy flesh.
2 Samuel 5:1 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.
2 Samuel 5:2 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.
2 Samuel 5:3 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
David {was} thirty years old when he began to reign, {and} he reigned forty years.
2 Samuel 5:4 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.
2 Samuel 5:5 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. {thinking...: or, saying David shall not, etc}
2 Samuel 5:6 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same {is} the city of David.
2 Samuel 5:7 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, {that are} hated of David's soul, {he shall be chief and captain}. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. {Wherefore...: or, Because they had said, even the blind and the lame, He shall not}
2 Samuel 5:8 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
2 Samuel 5:9 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts {was} with him. {went...: Heb. went, going and growing}
2 Samuel 5:10 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house. {masons: Heb. hewers of the stone of the wall}
2 Samuel 5:11 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.
2 Samuel 5:12 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
And David took {him} more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
2 Samuel 5:13 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
And these {be} the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
2 Samuel 5:14 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
2 Samuel 5:15 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
2 Samuel 5:16 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard {of it}, and went down to the hold.
2 Samuel 5:17 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
2 Samuel 5:18 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
2 Samuel 5:19 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim. {Baalperazim: that is, the plain of breaches}
2 Samuel 5:20 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them. {burned...: or, took them away}
2 Samuel 5:21 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
2 Samuel 5:22 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; {but} fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
2 Samuel 5:23 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
24
And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.
2 Samuel 5:24 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
25
And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer. {Geba: also called, Gibeon}
2 Samuel 5:25 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.