David Reigns Over All of Israel
November 22, 2021
Commentary
After the death of Ishbosheth, all of the tribes of Israel sent their leaders to David in Hebron. They made a covenant with him. In a spiritual ceremony they anointed him king over all of Israel. This chapter starts where David becomes king of all Israel and, at the same time, he finally obtains a place of his own. The nation after more than seven years of civil war, is reunited under David’s leadership. The place of his residence was known as Jebus. But from this text onward, Jebus becomes Jerusalem, the “city of David.” This chapter can be divided into four major sections:
Israel Submits to David as God’s King (vv.1-5) – At Hebron David reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. The Israelite elders come to David while he is in Hebron, submitting themselves to him as God’s king.David captures Jebus, which becomes Jerusalem, the “City of David.” (vv.6-10) – The city of Jerusalem was until the time that David captured it, known as Jebus. The Jebusites are first named in (Gen. 10:15-16) and are truly Canaanites, the descendants of Canaan, the third son of Ham (Gen. 10:6). David devised a plan to defeat the Jebusites by entering the city through the water tunnel.David’s house is built, in Jerusalem (vv.11-16) – Essentially there were two responses to David’s being made King of Israel: (a) embrace him as a friend and ally, or (b) resist and attack him as an enemy. Hiram, the king of Tyure, chose the former, while the Philistines opted for the latter.David defeats the Philistines (vv.17-25) – Though it was Saul’s task to deliver Israel from the Philistines (I Sam. 9:16), he was killed and Israel was defeated by the Philistines (I Sam 31). It was God who unnerved the Philistines with a sound in the tops of the mulberry trees (v. 24) and David was able to conquer them (v. 25).
Application
David did not become king over Israel until he was 37 years old, although he had been promised the kingdom many years earlier (I Sam. 16:13). When I feel pressured to achieve instant results and success I need to remember David’s patience and wait on God’s timing.
2 Samuel 5:1– 25 (NET)
1 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron saying, “Look, we are your very flesh and blood! 2 In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the real leader in Israel. The Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over Israel.’”
3 When all the leaders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, King David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the Lord. They designated David as king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign and he reigned for forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
6 Then the king and his men advanced to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who lived in the land. The Jebusites said to David, “You cannot invade this place! Even the blind and the lame will turn you back, saying, ‘David cannot invade this place!’”
7 But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). 8 David said on that day, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must approach the ‘lame’ and the ‘blind’ who are David’s enemies by going through the water tunnel.” For this reason it is said, “The blind and the lame cannot enter the palace.”
9 So David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. David built all around it, from the terrace inwards. 10 David’s power grew steadily, for the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies was with him.
11 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a palace for David. 12 David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 13 David married more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he arrived from Hebron. Even more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been designated king over Israel, they all went up to search for David. When David heard about it, he went down to the fortress. 18 Now the Philistines had arrived and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 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 indeed hand the Philistines over to you.”
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. 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men picked them up.
22 The Philistines again came up and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 23 So David asked the Lord what he should do. This time the Lord said to him, “Don’t march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees. 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 army of the Philistines.” 25 David did just as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.
Illustration: Americans Get Lots of Warning Labels
Americans are getting warned to death. Manufactures are growing increasingly wary of being sued when their products are misused, so they are attaching warning labels to hundreds of items. For example, a Batman outfit bears this warning: “Parents, please exercise caution—FOR PLAY ONLY. Mask and cape are not protective; cape does not enable user to fly. (Brian Crumpier – Sermon Central)