Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Samuel 5

THen came all the Tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy [illegible: 1+ letters]one, and thy flesh.

To wit, by their Ambassadors, Ishbosheth and Abner being now dead; and that without David's concurrence.

i. e. Thy Brethren, or Kinsmen, of the same Nation and Parentage, though not of the same Tribe; and therefore, as Gods Law, Deut. 17. 15. permits us, so our own relation and affection inclines us to choose thee for our King; and we doubt not thou wilt receive us for thy Subjects and People, and Pardon our Offences against thee.

Marginal references: 1 Chron. 11. 1.

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.

Thou wast our Chief Commander in our Expeditions against the Philistines, and therefore art most fit to be King over us.

To wit, by Samuel, 1 Sam. 16. 11, 12, 13. for though the words vary, yet the sence is the same.

i. e. Rule them, and take care of them, as a Shepherd doth of his Sheep, Psal. 78. 70, 71. This Expression he useth to admonish David, that he was not made a King to advance his own Glory and Interest, but for the good and benefit of his People; and that he ought to Rule them with all tenderness, and to watch over them with all diligence.

Marginal references: 1 Sam. 18. 13.; Psal. 78. 71.

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.

Whereby David obliged himself to rule them according to God's Laws; and the People promised Fidelity and Obedience to him.

Either, 1. Before the Ark; which might be here, though that be not mentioned in this place. Or, 2. Before the Priest clothed with the Ephod; whereby he was in a manner put into God's Presence. Or rather, 3. In the congregation of the mighty, or Magistrates, where God used to be present, Psal. 82. 1. in the Publick Assembly now met together in God's name and fear, and as in his Presence to call upon him, to appeal to him as the Witness and Judge of their Transactions. Compare Iudg. 11. 11. 1 Sam. 23. 18.

Either by a Prophet, or the Priest, to whom this Office belonged. See 2 Sam. 2. 4.

4 ¶ David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years .

And some odd Months, as it follows.

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 .

Having the advantage of so great a confluence of his People to make him King, he thought fit to begin his Reign with some eminent Action, and to lead them forth in this Expedition. Wherein doubtless he asked Advice from God, and the consent of the Elders now present.

As the place which God had designed for his Worship; and in the Center and Heart of his Kingdom, and therefore fittest for his Royal City.

Who continued to dwell there in spight of the Benjamites, to whose lot it fell. See Iosh. 15. 63. Iudg. 1. 21. and 19. 10, 11.

Or, thou shalt not come in hither, but the blind and the lame shall remove or hinder thee. By the blind and the lame they understand, either, 1. Their own People; and so they imply, that the Place was so Impregnable, that a few Blind and Lame men were able to Defend it against all David's Assaults. And these may be called, and were the hated of David's soul, v. 8. Not because they were blind and lame, but because they were Iebusites, a People hated and accursed by God: and the Iebusites of this place were more hateful to him, than the rest of that Nation; partly, because they Possessed this Place, which David knew was designed for the one and onely Place of God's Solenm Worship; and partly, because they did so wickedly and insolently defie the Armies of Israel, and consequently, the God of Israel. Or 2. Their gods or images; which, after the manner of the Heathens, they Worshipped as their tutelary gods, and placed in their Gates or Walls. These they call blind and lame sarcastically, and with respect to David's opinion; as if they said, These gods of ours, whom you Israelites Reproach, as Blind and Lame, Psal. 115. 5, 6. and so unable to direct and protect us, they will defend us against you; and you will find, they are neither Blind, nor Lame, but have Eyes to watch for us, and Hands to Fight against you; and you must Conquer them, before you can take our City. And these may well be called, the hated of David's soul. But I prefer the former sence, as being most easie, and natural, and proper; whereas, the latter is Metaphorical, and seems doubtful and forced.

Concluding their Fort to be Impregnable.

Marginal references: Or, except one remove from thee.; Or, saying,

7 Nevertheless, David took the strong hold of Zion : the same is the city of David.

Either, 1. A very strong Fort which they had built upon Mount Sion; which being taken, the City quickly yielded. Or, 2. The City of Zion, which was very strongly Fortified.

Marginal references: Now [illegible: 1 word]

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 Davids soul , he shall be chief and captain : wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house .

i. e. Whosoever Scaleth the Fort, or getteth up to the top of it, where the Gutter was.

Or even, or especially (for the Hebrew Particle Vau, signifies both ways) the lame and the blind: i. e. Those of them who are set to Defend that Place; who, as they pretend, should be onely the Lame, and the Blind. Others understand it, of their Idols, or Images. But they could not properly be said to be smitten, i. e. Killed; as that Word is used here, and elsewhere.

This belongs to the Iebusite, and the lame, and the blind; and it is explained in v. 6.

These words are fitly supplyed out of 1 Chron. 11. 6. where they are expressed; and they must needs be understood to make the sence compleat. And such Ellipses or defects of a part of the Sentence, are usual in Promises and Oaths, and Conditional Offers, such as this was.

i. e. Whence it became a Proverb, or a common saying, used by David, and others, upon this occasion: or otherwise, The blind and the lame Iebusites [illegible: 1+ letters]ere set to keep the House: i. e. The Fort of Zion; and to keep others from coming into it; but now they are shut out of it, and none of them, to wit, either, 1. Of the Iebusites; or, 2. Of Blind and Lame persons, shall be admitted to come into it again. Which David might resolve, and ordain, to keep up the memory of this great Exploit, and of the Insolent Carriage of the Iebusites, and their unhappy Success. Or, the blind and the lame shall not come into my house: to wit, Into the King's Palace. And although this might be a general Rule and Decree of David's, yet he might dispense with it in some special cases, as in that of Mephibosheth. But it is not necessary, that this should be a Proverb; for the Words may be thus rendred, as it is in the Margent of our Bible, because they had said, even the blind and the lame, he (i. e. David) shall not come into the house: or, because they (i. e. the Jebusites) had said, the blind and the lame shall hinder him; (which Words are easily supplied out of v. 6. where having spoken of this more largely, it was sufficient here to mention the most Emphatical Words, as is usual in such Cases;) He shall not come into the house, or hither; as they say, v. 6. i. e. Into the Fort: for the Word house is used very largely and generally in the Hebrew Language, for any place; as Iudg. 16. 21.

Marginal references: 1 Chron. 11. 6.; Or, because they had [illegible: 1 word], even the blind and the lame, he 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.

Which seems to have been some large and well fortified Building, Iudg. 9. 6. 2 Chron. 3. 5. adjoyning, or near to the wall of the City of Zion.

10 ¶ And David went on, and grew great , and the LORD God of hosts was with him.

In reputation and power.

Marginal references: Heb. went going and growing.

11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees , and carpenters, and masons , and they built David an house.

For Lebanon, which was famous for its Cedars, was, a great part of it, in his Dominion.

For the Tyrians were excellent Artists and Workmen; as both Sacred and Profane Writers agree.

Marginal references: 1 King. 5. 2. 1 Chron. 14. 1.; Heb. hewers of the stone of the wall.

12 And David perceived , that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israels sake.

By reflecting upon the Promises which God had made him, and the constant course of Gods Providence favouring him.

13 ¶ And David took him moe concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron, and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.

This may well be reckon'd amongst David's miscarriages, the multiplication of [illegible: 1 word] being expresly forbidden to the King, Deut. 17. 17. The use of seems to have been his Policy, that hereby he might enlarge his Family, and strengthen his Interest by Alliances with so many considerable Families. And the number of Wives being not limited, Deut. 17. he might conceive this was no Transgression of that Law.

Marginal references: 1 Chron. 3. 9. and 14. 3.

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 .

Whilst the Civil War lasted between the Houses of Saul and David, they wisely forbore all Hostilites, and left them to tear out one anothers Bowels, that afterwards they might make a more easie Conquest of both. But that being ended, and all united under David, they bestir themselves.

To find him out, and fight against him, and cut him off now in the Infancy of his Kingdom. Whereby they give David a just occasion to fight against them for his own necessary Defence, and acquit him from any note of Ingratitude, in opposing them who had formerly exercised kindness and Hospitality to him. Though indeed David's Obligations were in a manner wholly to Achish, who seems to he dead at this time, there being no mention of him.

To some fortified place to which his people might conveniently resort from all places, and where he might intrench his Army, and which lay towards the Philistines.

Marginal references: 1 Chron. 11. 16. and 14. 8.

18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephim .

Or, of the Giants: which lay Westward from Ierusalem, and so was the ready way to Ierusalem, which it seems they designed to take.

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.

Whither the Philistines were come from the Valley of Rephaim, 1 Chron. 14. 11.

As Floods or Rivers of Waters, which break the Banks, and overflow a Land, and overturn all that stands in their way.

Marginal references: Isa. 28. 21.; That is, the [illegible: 1 word] of brea [illegible: 1+ letters].

21 ¶ And there they left their images , and David and his men burnt them .

Which they seem to have brought into the Field to Figh[illegible: 1+ letters] for them, as the Israelites had formerly done the Ark.

As God had commanded, Deut. 7. 5.

Marginal references: 1 Chron. 14. 12.; Or, took them away.

22 And the Philistines came up yet again , and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

Doubtless with greater Force, as those that saw their All lay at stake.

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 mulbery-trees .

To wit, directly against them, as the following words explain it.

Where they least expect thee; Gods purposes and Promises do not exclude Mens just endeavours, but require them.

24 And let it be when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulbery-trees, that then thou shalt bestir they self : for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

A noise as it were of persons walking upon the tops of them, which I shall cause; and by this sign, both thou shalt be assured that I am coming to help thee; and the Philistines shall be affrighted and amused, and not perceive the noise of thy Army, until thou art upon them.

Do thou fall upon them.

25 And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba, until thou come to Gazer .

They followed their Victory, and pursued them to their own Borders, in which Gazer was, as Iosephus relates.