2 Samuel 5
2 Samuel 5 is the fifth chapter of the Second Book of Samuel in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible or the second part of Books of Samuel in the Hebrew Bible.[1] According to Jewish tradition the book was attributed to the prophet Samuel, with additions by the prophets Gad and Nathan,[2] but modern scholars view it as a composition of a number of independent texts of various ages from c. 630–540 BCE.[3][4] This chapter contains the account of David's reign in Hebron and Jerusalem.[5][6] This is within a section comprising 1 Samuel 16 to 2 Samuel 5 which records the rise of David as the king of Israel,[7] and a section comprising 2 Samuel 2–8 which deals with the period when David set up his kingdom.[8]
2 Samuel 5
Two victories over the Philistines (5:17–25)[edit]
The narrative of David's two victories over the Philistines could be connected with an earlier point when he was 'anointed king over Israel' (verse 17), where his 'stronghold' was not yet Jerusalem, but could be Adullam. On both occasions David consulted God, receiving a distinct reply for each — straight positive on the first event, but a negative on the second occasion, followed by further advice — leading to victories in all cases.[26] The Philistines came up to Rephaim, a plain located south-west of Jerusalem, and in the first battle David defeated them at Baal-perazim ('Lord of Bursting Forth'). In the second battle David was advised to take a different route and attack from the flank in the vicinity of 'balsam trees', bushy plants characteristic of a hilly region. The second victory was decisive as the Philistines were pushed 'from Geba' (Septuagint reads 'from Gibeon', six miles north-west of Jerusalem) back to their border at Gezer.[26]