Translations
Original
Notes
David … carried them away: David took the Philistines' idols as revenge for their earlier capture of the ark during Eli's time (1 Samuel 4:1b–11). Instead of keeping the idols as trophies, David burned them (1 Chronicles 14:12).
For the first time as king, David fought the Philistines in battle.
Up to this point in 2 Samuel, David’s life follows a clear and repeated pattern:
He was crowned king in Hebron (2 Samuel 2:4).
He won a battle (2 Samuel 2:12–17).
He grew stronger (2 Samuel 3:1).
He started a large family (2 Samuel 3:2–5).
A similar pattern appears again later:
David was crowned king in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:3).
He grew stronger again (2 Samuel 5:10).
He expanded his family (2 Samuel 5:13–14).
He won another battle (2 Samuel 5:17–25).
This repeated pattern emphasizes both of David’s coronations. Each one is marked by signs of God’s blessing and success.
After the murder of Abner and Ish-bosheth, the elders of the northern tribes accepted David as their king. So, David gained:
an extended empire (2 Samuel 5:1–5),
a new capital city (2 Samuel 5:6–10),
a new palace (2 Samuel 5:11),
a new family (2 Samuel 5:13–16), and
renewed confidence (2 Samuel 5:17–25).
Events
Parallels
People
David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ
Glossary
David Holy War Holy War Philistia, Philistines Samuel, Books of First and Second Valley of Rephaim
Topics
Iconoclasm: Destroyed by David Idolatry: Everything Connected With, should be Destroyed Philistines: Defeated by David Prayer: Answered: David, Asking Whether he should Go to War Against the Philistines Rain: David Delivered By The Philistines: David: Often Defeated in the Course of his Reign