Keraia
2 Samuel 5

2 Samuel 5:6

David Conquers Jerusalem · 2 Samuel 5:6–11
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Translations

Modern
Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.”
Traditional
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.
Literal
And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusite, the dweller of the land, and he spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here, for but the blind and the lame will repel you.” They said, “David cannot come in here.”
Latin
Et abiit rex, et omnes viri qui erant cum eo, in Jerusalem, ad Jebusæum habitatorem terræ: dictumque est David ab eis: Non ingredieris huc, nisi abstuleris cæcos et claudos dicentes: Non ingredietur David huc.

Original

Hebrew
English
Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.”

Notes

2 Samuel 5:6

  • The Jebusites lived in Jerusalem before King David captured the city (see Exodus 34:11; Deuteronomy 7:1–6; 20:17; Joshua 15:63; Judges 1:21). Nothing is known about the Jebusites outside the Bible.

    Archaeological texts from Mari, in Syria, mention a similar name, Yabasi. This name appears both as a clan name and as the name of a place.

  • Even the blind and lame: The Jebusites believed their city could not be captured. They thought Jerusalem was secure and impossible to defeat.

    Another possible translation is, You will not enter here unless you remove the blind and the lame. This statement suggests that David’s capture of Jerusalem seemed as impossible as curing blindness and lameness.

2 Samuel 5:6–10

David acquired a new capital city, Jerusalem, for the newly extended kingdom.

2 Samuel 5:1–25

After the murder of Abner and Ish-bosheth, the elders of the northern tribes accepted David as their king. So, David gained:

Theme notes and profiles

David Jerusalem Temple Worship

Events

Parallels

1 Chronicles 11:4–9

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ Jebusites: Canaanite tribe inhabiting Jerusalem before David's conquest

Places

Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions

Glossary

City City of David David David, City of Jebus, Jebusite Joshua, Book of Judah, Tribe of Judges, Book of Samuel, Books of First and Second Temple Zion

Topics

David: King of Israel: Makes Conquest of Jerusalem Jebusites: Conquered by David Jerusalem: The Citadel of Mount Zion, Occupied by David, and Called the City of David Jerusalem: The Jebusites: Finally Dispossessed of, by David Siege by David Zion: Captured from the Jebusites by David