2 Samuel 5:17-25 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Victories over the Philistines (J). (Cf. p. 67.) David twice defeats the Philistines in the Valley of Rephaim (p. 31, Isaiah 17:5 *). The growing strength of David had roused the apprehensions of his suzerains. These incidents seem prior to the capture of Jerusalem, and are sometimes supposed to have been inserted from another document; they may, however, be from (J), having been transposed by the editor. The hold is perhaps Adullam. The fact that we are told that David named the place Baal-perazim, Baal of Breaches, shows that the author saw nothing wrong in the use of Baal as a title of Yahweh (1 S. 4:49*.) The victors took. away the gods (so LXX and 1 Chronicles 14:12) of the Philistines. The Chronicler, anxious that his readers should not suppose that David intended to worship them, changed 2 Samuel 5:21 b into and they were burned with fire, AV here followed suit by altering took away into burned. In 2 Samuel 5:24, it is Yahweh who marches.

2 Samuel 5:25. Gezer: Joshua 10:33 *, Judges 1:29 *, 1 Kings 9:16 *.

Related Commentaries of 2 Samuel 5:17

2 Samuel 5:17-25

17 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.

18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

19 And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

20 And David came to Baalperazim,d and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.

21 And there they left their images, and David and his men burnede them.

22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

23 And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

25 And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Gebaf until thou come to Gazer.