2 Samuel 5

2 Samuel 5:1

DAVID IS MADE KING OVER ALL OF ISRAELThe tribes sent representatives to David. They said, “Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh.” That was true. This civil war was terrible, especially because the tribes were fighting each other. Personally, I think the worst war that this country fought was the Civil War. Looking back at it, that war seemed almost unnecessary. Certainly slavery is wrong, but it should have been abolished by means other than war. The hotheads and the protesters in that day were the ones who got the country in trouble. That is the reason I am opposed to all hot headed protestersregardless of what side they are on. They are typical of the crowd that got this nation into the trouble during the Civil War. Men like General Grant, Abraham Lincoln, and Robert E. Lee simply found themselves in an awkward situation. In the city of Atlanta you can still see the scars of the Civil War. The nation of Israel, after more than seven years of civil war, is reunited under David. Now it enters the greatest period it has ever enjoyed. This period foreshadows the day when Christ will come and rule.

2 Samuel 5:2

The tribes are rather late in acknowledging David as the legitimate and God-appointed ruler over them. They should have recognized him long before this, but they did not.

2 Samuel 5:3

Israel is about to enter its greatest period of prosperity and expansion. David is thirty years old when he begins to reignstill a young man. He had reigned over the single tribe of Judah for seven years and six months in Hebron. He will reign thirty-three years in Jerusalem over all Israel, all twelve tribes. David will reign for a total of forty years and six months.

2 Samuel 5:6

DAVID MOVES HIS CAPITAL TO JERUSALEMNotice the first move that David makes to consolidate the kingdom: he moved the capital of Israel from Hebron to Jerusalem. Once again, here are men who underestimated David. He was a great military leader, political leader, and king, and most and best of all he was a man of God. Now Zion was David’s favorite spot. Mark that in your Bible. I have marked it in mine. If you have ever been to that land, you will recognize that it is the high point of the city. Actually, in David’s day, Jerusalem was down near the Kidron valley. The walls that surrounded the city in that day have been excavated down in that area.

The present city of Jerusalem is nearer Mount Zion, where the palace of David was built. Later on, below Mount Zion, the temple was erected. David chose all of this. Jerusalem was David’s city. In many of his psalms he speaks of Mount Zion and Jerusalem. Frankly, it would not be my favorite city.

I agree with David on many things, but not on Jerusalem. Pilate hated that city. He went there only during the feast days. That is why he was in Jerusalem when Jesus was arrested; he was there for the Passover. He was there to keep order and, when the Passover was over, he retired to Caesarea, which was located on the Mediterranean. I think I would prefer Caesarea to Jerusalem, too.

As far as the Bible is concerned, however, Jerusalem is to be the great capital of this earth. I am delighted to know that I will not be living there throughout eternity. I am going to be in the New Jerusalem, which has a much greater vantage point than the earthly Jerusalem. We need to note here that “David took the strong hold of Zion.” He took the top of the hill and not the city proper. From that vantage point he was able to take this city of the Jebusites. The Jebusites found themselves overwhelemed before they even knew that there was a battle going on.

2 Samuel 5:8

This verse is a source of controversy. Some Bible commentators hold that this is David’s retort to taunt the Jebusites. Others believe it has a deeper meaning. Since Scripture gives us no explanation, we cannot know the exact meaning.

2 Samuel 5:9

David first captured Mount Zion and established it as his fort; then he took the city.

2 Samuel 5:10

He grew great, and God was with him. Hiram, the king of Tyre, recognized that David was an outstanding man, and so he worked out an arrangement with David whereby he supplied materials and workmen to build a palace.

2 Samuel 5:13

That is the record of the facts. God did not put his stamp of approval upon what David did. We will find that God definitely disapproves of polygamy. In David’s son Solomon it resulted in the splitting of the kingdom and finally brought on the Babylonian captivity. Why? Because David and Solomon were kings and in places of leadership. Their actions were wrong. Who says they were wrong? God says they were wrong! After all, it is His universe, and He makes the rules. Although you may not like them, God’s rules are good. God not only created us, but He laid down rules and regulations for our lives which would bring to the human family the ultimate in happiness and blessing.

2 Samuel 5:14

I know nothing about the first two boys mentioned in these verses, but I do know something about Nathan and Solomon. From the line of Nathan came Mary the mother of Jesus. From Solomon came Joseph, Mary’s husband. The Lord Jesus Christ received the blood line and the legal title to the throne of David through Nathan and Solomon. That is the reason this information is recorded for us here.

2 Samuel 5:17

WAR WITH THE PHILISTINESWhen David was escaping from Saul and went to live in the Philistine country, at least Achish considered David their man. Now that David has returned to his own nation and has been anointed king over all Israel, the Philistines are out to get him.

2 Samuel 5:19

Some time after this defeat, the Philistines returned. Again God delivered them into David’s hand. Throughout David’s reign there never was any peace with this enemy.