2 Samuel 5:17-25

Context

Conflict with the Philistines

5:17 When the Philistines heard that David had been designated¹ king over Israel, they all² went up to search for David. When David heard about it, he went down to the fortress. 5:18 Now the Philistines had arrived and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 5:19 So David asked the Lord, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to David, “March up, for I will indeed³ hand the Philistines over to you.”

5:20 So David marched against Baal Perazim and defeated them there. Then he said, “The Lord has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.” So he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.⁴ 5:21 The Philistines⁵ abandoned their idols⁶ there, and David and his men picked them up.

5:22 The Philistines again came up and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 5:23 So David asked the Lord what he should do.⁷ This time⁸ the Lord⁹ said to him, “Don’t march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees.¹⁰ 5:24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at that moment the Lord is going before you to strike down the army¹¹ of the Philistines.” 5:25 David did just as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.¹²

[5:17] ¹tn Heb “anointed.”

[5:17] ²tn Heb “all the Philistines.”

[5:19] ³tn The infinitive absolute lends emphasis to the following verb.

[5:20] ⁴tn The name means “Lord of the outbursts.”

[5:21] ⁵tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Philistines) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:21] ⁶tc For “idols” the LXX and Vulgate have “gods.”

[5:23] ⁷tn The words “what to do” are not in the Hebrew text.

[5:23] ⁸tn The words “this time” are not in the Hebrew text.

[5:23] ⁹tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:23] ¹⁰tn Some translate as “balsam trees” (cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV, NJB, NLT); cf. KJV, NKJV, ASV “mulberry trees”; NAB “mastic trees”; NEB, REB “aspens.” The exact identification of the type of tree or plant is uncertain.

[5:24] ¹¹tn Heb “camp” (so NAB).

[5:25] ¹²tn Heb “from Gibeon until you enter Gezer.”