II Samuel 4 & 5

A Change is Coming (2 Sam 4:1 NASB) Now when Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel was disturbed.

A Change is Coming (2 Sam 4:1 NASB) Now when Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel was disturbed. Their side had lost, so what now? Abner was trying to work out a smooth transfer of power, and he is dead. They are now at David’s mercy.

Joab kills Abner (A brief review) (2 Sam 3:27 NKJV) Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed him in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.

Hebron Abner died in Hebron. He was working for Saul, but had decided to support David, and then was killed.

Captains of Saul’s troops (2 Sam 4:2 NKJV) Now Saul's son had two men who were captains of troops. The name of one was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin. (For Beeroth also was part of Benjamin),

Beerothites flee to Gittaim (2 Sam 4:3 NKJV) because the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been sojourners there until this day.)

Gittaim on left, and Beeroth on rt. (about 18 miles apart.)

Mephibosheth (2 Sam 4:4 NKJV) Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.

Ishbosheth, Saul's son (2 Sam 4:5 NKJV) Then the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out and came at about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who was lying on his bed at noon.

Ishbosheth, Saul's son is killed (2 Sam 4:6 NKJV) And they came there, all the way into the house, as though to get wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

More Details (2 Sam 4:7 NKJV) For when they came into the house, he was lying on his bed in his bedroom; then they struck him and killed him, beheaded him and took his head, and were all night escaping through the plain.

David didn’t want this! (2 Sam 4:8 NKJV) And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, "Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul your enemy, who sought your life; and the LORD has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and his descendants."

David trusts the Lord (2 Sam 4:9 NKJV) But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all adversity,

David was not out to get Saul (2 Sam 4:10 NKJV) "when someone told me, saying, 'Look, Saul is dead,' thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag; the one who thought I would give him a reward for his news.

The crime stated by David (2 Sam 4:11 NKJV) "How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Therefore, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and remove you from the earth?"

The Verdict (2 Sam 4:12 NKJV) So David commanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.

II Samuel 5 Time for David

Time for David (2 Sam 5:1 NKJV) Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, "Indeed we are your bone and your flesh.

Their Review of David’s Life (2 Sam 5:2 NKJV) "Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD said to you, 'You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.'"

David Anointed King (2 Sam 5:3 NKJV) Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel.

Hebron Much happened at Hebron. The latest that we add is making David king here.

Length of David’s Reign (2 Sam 5:4 NKJV) David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

The Two Parts of His Reign (2 Sam 5:5 NKJV) In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

Jebusites, Jebusalem, Jerusalem: they speak against David (2 Sam 5:6 NKJV) And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, "You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you," thinking, "David cannot come in here."

Jebusites, Jebusalem, Jerusalem: First mentioned in Genesis 14:18 as "Salem" (peace) .  Later known as "Jebus" - city of the Jebusites, it became "Jebus + Salem" - Jebusalem (Jerusalem).  -------------------------------------------------------------- From notes of Graham Brodie BEng GDC PhD Dookie Campus, University of Melbourne Permission to copy, granted 3/30/2009

Zion (2 Sam 5:7 NKJV) Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).

Mt. Zion

Mt. Zion Zion is an archaic term that originally referred to a specific mountain near Jerusalem (Mount Zion), on which stood a Jebusite fortress of the same name that was conquered by David. "Zion" became applied to the section of Jerusalem where the fortress stood, and after Solomon's Temple was built there, it came to refer to the temple grounds and the temple itself. Today "Zion" is often used metaphorically, to symbolize Jerusalem and the Promised Land to come, in which God dwells among his chosen people. From: http://www.crystalinks.com/zion.html

The Water Shaft (2 Sam 5:8 NKJV) Now David said on that day, "Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David's soul), he shall be chief and captain." Therefore they say, "The blind and the lame shall not come into the house."

The Water Shaft The only access to the citadel was where the water had worn a channel (some understand a subterranean channel), and where there was, in consequence, some vegetation in the rock. Joab (see the marginal reference) took the hint, and with all the activity that had distinguished his brother Asahel.

The blind and the lame The blind and the lame are either literally such, placed there in derision by the Jebusites who thought the stronghold impregnable, or they are the Jebusite garrison, so called in derision by David.

David has a dwelling place (2 Sam 5:9 NKJV) Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward.

Where is the Millo? (2 Sam 5:9 NIV) David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the supporting terraces inward. (2 Sam 5:9 NKJV) Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward.

A Summary of David’s Life (2 Sam 5:10 NKJV) So David went on and became great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.

Hiram Honors David (2 Sam 5:11 NKJV) Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house.

2 Sam 5:12 (NKJV) So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel. the LORD had established him as king over Israel, He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

More Wives? (2 Sam 5:13 NKJV) And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David.

Adam Clarke on 2 Sa 5:13: “David took him more concubines”- He had, in all conscience, enough before; he had, in the whole, eight wives and ten concubines. That dispensation permitted polygamy, but from the beginning it was not so; and as upon an average there are about fourteen males born to thirteen females, polygamy is unnatural, and could never have entered into the original design of God.

Names of his children: (2 Sam 5:14-16 NKJV) Now these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, {15} Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, {16} Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

The Philistines and David (2 Sam 5:17 NKJV) Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold.

Adam Clarke on 2 Sam 5:17: The Philistines came up to seek David - Ever since the defeat of the Israelites and the fall of Saul and his sons, the Philistines seem to have been in undisturbed possession of the principal places in the land of Israel; now, finding that David was chosen king by the whole nation, they thought best to attack him before his army got too numerous, and the affairs of the kingdom were properly settled.

The Philistines are coming! (2 Sam 5:18 NKJV) The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. I’d show the map, but the map write Rephaim on top of Jerusalem. It appears to be about 7 miles almost due west of Jerusalem, so they are very close.

David Gets God’s Instructions (2 Sam 5:19 NKJV) So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?" And the LORD said to David, "Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand."

David is Victorious (2 Sam 5:20 NKJV) So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water." Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.

Baal Perazim (between Jerusalem & Bethlehem)

They left their images (2 Sam 5:21 NKJV) And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away.

Why did they leave their images? And there they left their images - An indication of the haste of their flight, and the suddenness with which the Israelites burst upon them like a “breach of waters.” The King James Version rendering “Burned them,” does not give a translation (compare the margin), but a gloss, warranted by the explanation given in marginal references – Albert Barnes

But the Philistines will continue (2 Sam 5:22 NKJV) Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.

David Gets the Battle Plan (2 Sam 5:23 NKJV) Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, "You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.

The Details (2 Sam 5:24 NKJV) "And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines."

David gains the Victory (2 Sam 5:25 NKJV) And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer. Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Geba & Gezer The Pursuit of the Philistines Geba just below Bethel Ramah is near Geba

What have we learned?

What have we learned? God did great things for Israel through David.

What have we learned? God did great things for Israel through David. David was a leader, not a “Lone Ranger.”

What have we learned? God did great things for Israel through David. David was a leader, not a “Lone Ranger.” David and his men had to work for their victories.

What have we learned? God did great things for Israel through David. David was a leader, not a “Lone Ranger.” David and his men had to work for their victories. David waited a long time for the victories that God gave him.

What have we learned? God did great things for Israel through David. David was a leader, not a “Lone Ranger.” David and his men had to work for their victories. David waited a long time for the victories that God gave him. David had a definite weakness for women, and had to cause a lot of grief and heartache to many.