Keraia
2 Samuel 5

2 Samuel 5:8

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

Translations

Modern
On that day he said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must use the water shaft to reach the lame and blind who are despised by David.” That is why it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the palace.”
Traditional
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.
Literal
…and David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusite, let him go up by the water shaft (and the lame and the blind who are hated by the soul of David).” And upon thus they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”
Latin
Proposuerat enim David in die illa præmium, qui percussisset Jebusæum, et tetigisset domatum fistulas, et abstulisset cæcos et claudos odientes animam David. Idcirco dicitur in proverbio: Cæcus et claudus non intrabunt in templum.

Original

Hebrew
English
On that day he said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must use the water shaft to reach the lame and blind who are despised by David.” That is why it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the palace.”

Notes

2 Samuel 5:8

  • Scholars debate how David captured Jerusalem. One view is that David’s men entered the city through a water tunnel. This tunnel may have carried water into the city and also allowed soldiers to move inside. However, not all interpreters agree with this explanation.

    Another view is that David and his men captured Jerusalem through a more typical military attack. They may have built siege works (structures used to attack a city) and climbed over the city walls. The Hebrew word often translated water tunnel appears only here and in Psalm 42:7, where it is translated “waterfalls.“ Because of this, some scholars think the word may be figurative. In that case, it would describe the violence and intensity of the attack, not a literal tunnel.

  • The blind and the lame will never enter the palace: The word palace could mean either the temple, which was not yet built, or David’s palace. This saying may help explain why Mephibosheth, a descendant of Saul who was disabled, did not become king (see study note on 2 Samuel 4:4).

  • David also promised that those who led the siege of Jerusalem would become commanders in his army (see 1 Chronicles 11:6).

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

Glossary

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

Topics

Blind: The Taunting Jebusites, Hated by David 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 Lameness: Hated by David Zion: Captured from the Jebusites by David