Explore 2 Samuel 5 and how David becomes king over all Israel, capturing Jerusalem as God establishes his throne.
The long years of waiting and conflict had finally come to an end. David had been anointed king over Judah at Hebron, while the northern tribes had remained loyal to the house of Saul. The deaths of Abner and Ish-bosheth had removed the last obstacles to David's reign over all Israel. The time had come for the fulfillment of God's promise to make David king over His people.
The elders of all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron with a unified voice. They acknowledged that they were his bone and his flesh. They reminded him that he had led Israel in battle even during Saul's reign. They declared that the Lord had said to him, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. King David made a covenant with them before the Lord, and they anointed him king over all Israel. The long civil war was over, and the nation was united under one king.
David's first act as king over all Israel was to capture Jerusalem from the Jebusites. The city had remained a Canaanite stronghold for centuries. The Jebusites boasted that even the blind and the lame would keep David out. David and his men took the strong hold of Zion and made it the city of David. He built the city around it and grew greater and greater, for the Lord God of hosts was with him. The chapter demonstrates that God's promise to David was established through divine power and guidance.
The Anointing of David as King Over All Israel
The Gathering at Hebron
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). The representatives of the northern tribes traveled to Hebron to acknowledge David as their king. The journey was a humbling act of submission. The elders recognized their kinship with David as fellow Israelites and descendants of Jacob.
The tribes acknowledged three reasons for their submission. They recognized their blood relationship with David. They remembered his proven leadership in battle, even when Saul was king. They declared their knowledge of God's promise that David would shepherd His people Israel. The elders' address was a public acknowledgment of God's sovereign choice of David.
The Covenant Before the Lord
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). The covenant was a formal agreement between David and the people. David obligated himself to protect and rule them with justice. The people obligated themselves to obey and support David as their king.
The ceremony was conducted before the Lord, making God a witness to the covenant. The anointing was David's third anointing. The first was by Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:13. The second was by the men of Judah at Hebron in 2 Samuel 2:4. The third anointing completed the fulfillment of God's promise. The anointing established David as the shepherd-king over all Israel.
The Duration of David's Reign
David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years (2 Samuel 5:4). David was thirty years old when he began to reign over Judah at the death of Saul. He was in the prime of life and strength. His reign was long and prosperous. He reigned seven years and six months in Hebron over Judah (2 Samuel 5:5). He reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem over all Israel and Judah.
The total reign of David was forty years and six months. The length of his reign demonstrated God's blessing and favor. David was the greatest king of Israel. His reign was a time of unity, strength, and prosperity. The duration of his reign fulfilled God's purpose for his life and the nation.
The Conquest of Jerusalem
The Challenge of the Jebusites
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 (2 Samuel 5:6). The Jebusites were confident in the strength of their fortress. They mocked David and his army, boasting that even the blind and the lame could defend the city. Their pride and arrogance were a challenge to David's authority.
The fortress of Zion was located on a mountain with deep valleys on three sides. The natural defenses made the city seem impregnable. The Jebusites had held the stronghold for centuries. They did not believe that any enemy could penetrate their defenses. Their confidence was misplaced because they did not account for God's power working through David.
The Capture of the Stronghold
Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David (2 Samuel 5:7). David's forces captured the fortress through a strategic military maneuver. The attack probably involved entering through the water tunnel or shaft that supplied the city. The victory was a testament to David's military skill and God's favor.
David named the captured fortress the city of David. The name honored David and established his legacy in the city. The conquest of Jerusalem was a decisive victory over the remaining Canaanites. It completed the conquest that Joshua had begun centuries earlier. The capture of Jerusalem secured a central and defensible location for the capital of the united kingdom.
The Building of the City
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). David made Jerusalem his royal residence. He built houses and fortifications around the fortress. The construction strengthened the city and made it a suitable capital.
David grew greater and greater: for the LORD God of hosts was with him (2 Samuel 5:10). The success of David was directly attributed to the presence of God. The Lord of hosts, the commander of the heavenly armies, was with David. The presence of God was the source of David's power and greatness.
The Establishment of David's Throne
The Building of the Palace
And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house (2 Samuel 5:11). Hiram of Tyre sent materials and workers to build a palace for David. The gift from a foreign king was a sign of international recognition. The palace was a symbol of David's established kingdom.
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). David recognized God's hand in his success. The kingdom was established for the sake of God's people, not merely for David's glory. The building of the palace confirmed David's understanding of God's purpose.
The Growth of David's House
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). The growth of David's family was a sign of God's blessing. The sons born in Jerusalem included Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, and others (2 Samuel 5:14-16). The sons would play significant roles in the history of David's kingdom.
The birth of Solomon was especially significant. Solomon would become David's successor and the builder of the temple. The growth of David's house was a fulfillment of God's promise to multiply his descendants. The lesson for believers is that God blesses those who are faithful to Him.
The Victories Over the Philistines
The Philistines also went and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim (2 Samuel 5:18). The Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel. They came to challenge him and to reclaim their dominance. The valley of Rephaim was near Jerusalem, making the threat immediate.
David inquired 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). David sought divine guidance before going to battle. The Lord answered with a promise of victory. David defeated the Philistines at Baal-perazim and declared that the Lord had broken through his enemies like a flood (2 Samuel 5:20).
David inquired of the LORD again when the Philistines returned (2 Samuel 5:22). The Lord gave David specific instructions: Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees (2 Samuel 5:23). The Lord promised to go before David and defeat the Philistines. David obeyed the divine instructions and won a second victory (2 Samuel 5:25). The victories secured David's kingdom and established his reputation as a warrior king.
Lessons from 2 Samuel 5
The Fulfillment of God's Promises
The events of 2 Samuel 5 demonstrate the faithfulness of God. The promise to David, spoken through Samuel, was fulfilled at Hebron. The long years of waiting and struggle came to an end. The lesson for believers is that God keeps His promises. The apostle Paul writes: For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us (2 Corinthians 1:20).
The Importance of Divine Guidance
David inquired of the Lord before each military engagement. He did not rely on his own wisdom or experience. The lesson for believers is the importance of seeking divine guidance. The apostle Paul writes: In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:6).
The Presence of God
David grew greater and greater because the Lord God of hosts was with him. The presence of God was the source of David's success. The lesson for believers is the importance of God's presence in their lives. The apostle Paul writes: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13).
The Unity of the Nation
The anointing of David as king over all Israel brought unity to the nation. The long civil war came to an end. The tribes were united under one king. The lesson for believers is the importance of unity in the body of Christ. The apostle Paul writes: Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).
Connections to Scripture
The Promise to David
The promise to David is recorded in 2 Samuel 7:12-16. God promised that David's throne would be established forever. The events of 2 Samuel 5 were the fulfillment of that promise. The promise pointed forward to the Messiah, the Son of David.
The Anointing of David
The anointing of David is recorded in 1 Samuel 16:12-13. Samuel anointed David as king over Israel. The anointing at Hebron was the public fulfillment of that designation. The third anointing completed the fulfillment of God's promise.
The Capture of Jerusalem
The capture of Jerusalem was a prophetic fulfillment. God had promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land of the Jebusites (Genesis 15:18-21). The capture of Jerusalem by David fulfilled that ancient promise.
Conclusion
The fifth chapter of 2 Samuel records the climax of David's rise to power. The elders of Israel came to Hebron and anointed David as king over all Israel. David captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites and made it his capital. He built a palace and grew in power. The Philistines were defeated in two battles. The chapter demonstrates that God's promise to David was established through divine power and guidance.
David's example of seeking divine guidance teaches believers to trust in God's direction. He inquired of the Lord before each battle and followed His instructions. The lesson for believers is to seek God's will in every decision and to trust in His sovereign plan. David's success was the result of God's presence with him. The lesson is to depend on God's presence and power.
The unity of the nation under David's reign reflects God's desire for unity among His people. The long civil war came to an end, and the tribes were united under one king. The lesson for believers is to pursue unity in the body of Christ. The example of David encourages believers to work for reconciliation and to trust in God's purposes. The ultimate unity is found in Christ, who came to make one new man out of Jew and Gentile. The chapter calls believers to trust in God's promises, to seek divine guidance, and to pursue unity in the body of Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why did the elders of Israel come to David at Hebron to make him king?
The elders of Israel came to David at Hebron because the civil war was over and David was the only legitimate candidate for the throne. They acknowledged three reasons: they were his bone and flesh, he had led Israel in battle during Saul's reign, and God had promised that David would shepherd His people Israel. The elders came to submit to God's choice and to unite the nation under one king.
2. What was the significance of David capturing Jerusalem from the Jebusites?
Jerusalem was a strategically located city on the border of Judah and Benjamin. It was a neutral location that did not favor any tribe. The city was also the ancient stronghold of the Jebusites, which had not been conquered by Joshua. The capture of Jerusalem fulfilled God's promise to Abraham and established a central capital for the united kingdom. David named it the city of David.
3. How did David grow greater and greater?
David grew greater and greater because the Lord God of hosts was with him. The presence of God was the source of David's power and success. David also received foreign recognition through the gift of a palace from King Hiram of Tyre. The Lord established David's kingdom and exalted it for the sake of His people Israel.
4. What lessons can believers learn from David's military campaigns in 2 Samuel 5?
Believers can learn the importance of seeking divine guidance before taking action. David inquired of the Lord before each battle and followed His specific instructions. The lesson is to depend on God's wisdom rather than human wisdom. Believers can also learn to trust in God's promises of victory and to obey His commands.
5. How does the anointing of David in 2 Samuel 5 connect to the promise of the Messiah?
The anointing of David as king over all Israel was the fulfillment of God's promise to make David king. The promise to David in 2 Samuel 7 that his throne would be established forever pointed forward to the Messiah. The Messiah is called the Son of David and is the eternal king who will reign forever. The anointing of David was a foreshadowing of the coming of Christ.
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