King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 8 notes
1Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
It was easy to see that the hand of the Lord was upon David.
The way situations conspired for his help was obviously the divine at work.
The people recognized this and aligned to make him king 👑 of the whole realm.
It was a long walk to freedom.
2Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.
How and when did it become common knowledge that the Lord had spoken concerning David that he would become king 👑?
Could the secret anointing of DAVID by Samuel have become an open 🔓 secret?
3So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.
4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.
6And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.
7Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
8And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.
9So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
10And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.
The Lord of hosts was with him, the Lord of armies was with him in helping him to win his wars. This particular title of God was aptly chosen to fit the context of the passage.
11And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
12And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.
13And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
14And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
15Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
16And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
17But 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.
I'm sure this includes the Philistines among whom he had lived.
Now they realized David had deceived them the whole time ⌚.
They knew the dangers of David becoming king for long.
He was going to dominate them all. The earlier they nipped him in the bud, the better for them.
Which hold?
Israel had a king and successor over them in place of Saul. Their enemies, the Philistines, saw that Israel was trying to strengthen themselves. They can have none of that.
So they gathered to weaken the new king and exert their control and influence over Israel. In time past they had garrisons and a strong presence in Israel. They had also taken cities after defeating Saul in battle.
A loss to the children of God that God permitted. Of course, God knew he could take all that back in due time, so that wasn't a problem.
Now the Philistines, with David on the throne, risked losing all they had consolidated.
18The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
19And 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.
How did David enquire... If by the Urim and Thummim, he would get yes and no answers.
But God spoke to him clearly that he would doubtless be victorious over them.
Likely the Lord spoke to him, or through the priests?
No details are given as to the enquiry process.
20And David came to Baal-perazim, 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 Baal-perazim.
21And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.
22And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
23And 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.
24And 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.
Why move quickly? Because this move of God was time bound.
It was not at David's discretion as to when to attack.
He was to attack when God prompts, and he was to do it quickly.
He was to seize the moment.
25And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.