2 Samuel 5: King Over All Israel
All the tribes come to Hebron and anoint David king over Israel; he captures the stronghold of Zion, makes it the city of David, and defeats the Philistines.
2 Samuel 5 (WEB)
1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David to Hebron, and spoke, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. Yahweh said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’”
3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over Israel.
4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
6 The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “Unless you take away the blind and the lame, you shall not come in here”; thinking, “David can’t come in here.”
7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.
8 David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and strike the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame can’t come into the house.”
9 David lived in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. David built around from Millo and inward.
10 David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh, the God of Armies, was with him.
11 Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.
12 David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.
13 David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron; and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
14 These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
15 and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
16 and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17 When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold.
18 Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
19 David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?” Yahweh said to David, “Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
20 David came to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there; and he said, “Yahweh has broken my enemies before me, like the breach of waters.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
21 They left their images there; and David and his men took them away.
22 The Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
23 When David inquired of Yahweh, he said, “You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and attack them over against the mulberry trees.
24 It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shall stir yourself up; for then Yahweh has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”
25 David did so, as Yahweh commanded him, and struck the Philistines from Geba until you come to Gezer.
2 Samuel 5 (KJV)
1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
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.
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.
4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
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.
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.
7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
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.
9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
10 And David went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.
11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
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.
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.
14 And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
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.
18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
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.
20 And David came to Baal–perazim, 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 Baal–perazim.
21 And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.
22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
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.
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.
25 And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.
2 Samuel 5 (ASV)
1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was thou that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and Jehovah said to thee, Thou shalt be shepherd of my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.
3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Jehovah: and they anointed David king over Israel.
4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
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.
6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who 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.
7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.
8 And David said on that day, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and smite the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul. Wherefore they say, There are the blind and the lame; he cannot come into the house.
9 And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
10 And David waxed greater and greater; for Jehovah, the God of hosts, was with him.
11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.
12 And David perceived that Jehovah had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.
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.
14 And these are the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
15 and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
16 and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17 And when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold.
18 Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
19 And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And Jehovah said unto David, Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into thy hand.
20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and he said, Jehovah hath broken mine enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.
21 And they left their images there; and David and his men took them away.
22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
23 And when David inquired of Jehovah, he said, Thou shalt not go up: make a circuit behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees.
24 And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then is Jehovah gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.
25 And David did so, as Jehovah commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gezer.
Summary
At last the long division ends. All the tribes of Israel come to David at Hebron, acknowledging him as their own flesh and recalling that even under Saul it was David who led Israel out and brought them in, and that Yahweh had appointed him shepherd and prince over his people. The elders make a covenant with David before the Lord, and they anoint him king over all Israel, fulfilling years of waiting. David, now thirty, will reign forty years in all. He marches against the Jebusites and captures the seemingly impregnable stronghold of Zion, which becomes the city of David—a new capital belonging to no single tribe. David grows greater and greater, for Yahweh, the God of Armies, is with him, and Hiram of Tyre sends materials and craftsmen to build him a house. David perceives that the Lord has established him as king for the sake of his people Israel. When the Philistines hear of his anointing and come up to attack, David does not presume; he inquires of the Lord, who grants victory at Baal Perazim. When they return, David inquires again, and God gives him a different strategy, telling him to wait for the sound of marching in the treetops, the sign that the Lord has gone out before him. David obeys exactly, and routs them.
Main Characters
- David — Anointed king over all Israel, who captures Jerusalem, grows great because the Lord is with him, and inquires of God before battle.
- The elders of Israel — Representatives of all the tribes who covenant with David and anoint him king, recognizing God's appointment.
- Hiram of Tyre — The foreign king who sends cedar, carpenters, and masons to build David a royal house.
- Yahweh, the God of Armies — The Lord who establishes David's kingdom, grants victory over the Philistines, and goes out before his army.
Key Verse
2 Samuel 5:12 (WEB)
David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.
Lessons Learned
- God's promises, though long delayed, come to pass in fullness and in his perfect timing.
- True greatness comes not from human strength but from the presence of the Lord.
- Leaders are established for the sake of God's people, not for their own glory.
- Even after victory, we must keep inquiring of God rather than presuming on past success.
- God exalts for his people's sake. David saw “that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake” (2 Samuel 5:12, WEB); position is given for service, not self.
- Greatness flows from God's presence. “David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh, the God of Armies, was with him” (2 Samuel 5:10, WEB).
- Inquire of the Lord repeatedly. David “inquired of Yahweh” before each battle (2 Samuel 5:19, 23, WEB), receiving different guidance each time rather than assuming.
- Obey God's specific direction. “David did so, as Yahweh commanded him” (2 Samuel 5:25, WEB); the victory followed exact obedience to God's word.
- On what grounds do the tribes of Israel come to anoint David king?
- Why is the capture of Jerusalem such a strategic and unifying choice for David's capital?
- What does verse 12 reveal about how David understood his kingship?
- Why does David inquire of the Lord separately before each Philistine battle, and what does this teach us?
- In what area of life are you tempted to rely on past success rather than seeking God fresh today?
- The tribes acknowledge David as their flesh and recall that he led Israel and was appointed shepherd by Yahweh (5:1-2). They recognize both kinship and God's choice in making him king.
- Zion belonged to no tribe, so it could unite the nation, and its stronghold was defensible. Capturing it gave David a fitting capital, soon called the city of David (5:6-9).
- David perceives that God established him as king “for his people Israel’s sake” (5:12). He sees his throne as a trust for the good of others, not a prize for himself.
- David never presumes; he asks God each time and receives fresh, specific guidance (5:19-24). It teaches dependence—that yesterday's victory does not replace today's need for God's direction.
- This is a personal-application question. Encourage members to identify where they coast on past experience, and to renew the habit of inquiring of the Lord in fresh dependence.