Bible Commentaries
2 Samuel 5

Verse 1

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 2

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

feed = feed as a shepherd.

Verse 3

made a league = solemnised a covenant. anointed David. See note on 1 Samuel 16:13 .

Verse 6

men. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

saying . What they said must be rendered thus "Thou shalt not come in hither, for the blind and the lame shall drive thee away [by saying]`David shall not come in hither. ' "

Verse 7

the strong hold of Zion : i.e. the hill of Ophel, immediately south of Moriah.

Zion. First occurrence. Occurs 154 times in O.T. (7 x 22, App-10 ); used later (especially in prophecy) of the whole city. See App-68 .

the City of David . Which is on Jebus, therefore, and not on the west side. First occurrence. Occurs forty times in O.T. Used of Zion five times ( 2Sa 5:7 , 2 Samuel 5:9 ; 1Ki 8:1 . 1 Chronicles 11:5 . 2 Chronicles 5:2 ).

Verse 8

to the gutter = by (or through) the zinnor, a rock-cut passage from the lower Gihon or En-Rogel (now the Virgin's Fount on east of Ophel), leading up into the city and supplying water. Discovered by Sir Charles Warren. Compare note on Nehemiah 2:13 , &c.

soul . Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

he shall be chief and captain . These words are supplied from 1 Chronicles 11:6 , which tells that Joab got up the zinnor first. Probably revealed to him (or to David) by Araunah, who (though a Jebusite) was not slain, but is found, later on, owning property quite near (2 Samuel 24:16 ). Josephus says Araunah was a friend of David's.

Wherefore = Because.

Verse 9

fort = the "strong hold" of 2 Samuel 5:7 . Citadel.

round about = the wall, which was continued by Solomon (1 Kings 9:15 , 1 Kings 9:24 ; 1 Kings 11:27 ), afterward by Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:5 ), and extended by Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:14 ).

Millo = the Millo, or the filling up: i.e. of the valley between Moriah and Jebus.

Verse 10

went on = went on and on.

the LORD God of hosts = Jehovah Elohim zebaioth. App-4 . See note on 1 Samuel 1:3 .

Verse 11

Hiram . Not the Hiram of 1 Kings 9:11 , which was sixty years later. Josephus says he was his father. Compare 2 Chronicles 2:13 . 1 Kings 5:1 .

Tyre . Israel had no war with Phoenicians. Asher failed to expel them (Judges 1:31 ).

Verse 13

out of . Perhaps this should read "into", as in 1 Chronicles 14:3 . But both accounts are independent and complementary.

Verse 16

Eliada = Another name, Beeliada. See note on 1 Chronicles 14:7 .

Verse 17

seek . Compare 1 Samuel 26:2 .

hold . Probably Adullam. 1 Samuel 22:1 . Not Zion, because he went "down "to it.

Verse 18

Rephaim . The descendants of the Nephilim through one "Rapha". See App-23 and App-25 . Compare 1 Chronicles 11:15 .

Verse 19

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. ( App-4 .). See note on Chron. 2 Samuel 14:10 .

Verse 20

broken forth . Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .

Verse 25

as = according as.

Geba . Abbreviation for "Gibeon". Compare Septuagint, and 1 Chronicles 14:16 .