2 Samuel 5:23

Contextual Overview

¹⁷When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of David, but he heard about it and went down to the stronghold. ¹⁷ When the Pelishtim heard that they had anointed David king over Yisra'el, all the Pelishtim went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold. 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. ¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David as king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David, but David heard and went down to the stronghold. ¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. ¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been made king over Israel, all the Philistines went to look for him. But when David heard the news, he went down to the stronghold. ¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been designated king over Israel, they all went up to search for David. When David heard about it, he went down to the fortress. ¹⁷When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to look for him, but he heard about it and went down to the stronghold. ¹⁷ Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek out David; and when David heard about it, he went down to the stronghold. ¹⁷ But when the Philistims hearde that they had anoynted Dauid King ouer Israel, all the Philistims came vp to seeke Dauid: and when Dauid heard, he went downe to a fort.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

inquired: 2 Samuel 5:19

fetch: Joshua 8:2, Joshua 8:7, 1 Chronicles 14:14, Matthew 9:29, Matthew 9:30, Matthew 8:23-25, John 9:6, John 9:7

the mulberry trees: The word bechaim, rendered mulberry trees, is rendered by Aquila, בנישם, pear-trees, as the LXX also render in 1 Chronicles 14:14-15; and so the Vulgate in both places has pyrorum. The Rabbins, however, believe bacha signifies the mulberry-tree; with whom Ursinus agrees. It more probably denotes a large shrub which the Arabs still call baca, from its distilling an odoriferous gum, from bachah to distil, as tears. Of this opinion is Celsius, who quotes a passage from Abulfadi, who describes it as a balsam shrub, having longish leaves, and bearing a large fruit with an acrid taste. M. Forskal mentions a tree by the name of beca, with leaves rather ovated, smooth, entire. Its berries are poisonous to the sheep.

Reciprocal: Joshua 6:10 - until the day Judges 20:29 - liers 1 Samuel 14:37 - Shall I go 1 Samuel 23:2 - inquired 1 Samuel 30:8 - inquired 2 Samuel 2:1 - inquired 2 Samuel 14:20 - fetch 2 Samuel 21:1 - of the Lord 1 Kings 8:44 - whithersoever 1 Chronicles 14:10 - inquired 2 Chronicles 18:4 - Inquire Psalms 84:6 - Baca

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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 Rephaim, and near where the Philistines had pitched.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The mulberry trees - Rather, the Bacah-tree, and found abundantly near Mecca. It is very like the balsam-tree, and probably derives its name from the exudation of the sap in drops like tears when a leaf is torn off. Some think the valley of Baca Psalms 84:6 was so called from this plant growing there.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 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.