UNROLL
Dawn over Hebron: the small walled town on its rounded hill among terraced vineyards, and on every slope around it the tents and smoking campfires of a great gathering, tiny groups of men in wool cloaks walking up the paths toward the gate, under a calm, clear dawn sky.

The Book of

2 Samuel 5

Seven years in Hebron. Now every tribe of Israel comes to say: you are our king.

25 verses≈ 5 min2 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–4King in HebronThe house of Saul falls
  2. 5–6JerusalemThe ark comes homeChapter 5
  3. 7–10A house foreverGod's promise to David
  4. 11–12David's sinBathsheba and Nathan
  5. 13–20The swordAmnon, Absalom and Sheba
  6. 21–24Last wordsSongs, heroes and an altar

David Anointed King of All Israel

The Israelites
The Israelites

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”

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Late afternoon at Hebron's gate: David kneels with bowed head while an old elder pours olive oil from a ram's horn over his reddish-brown hair, a semicircle of elders standing close around, under a calm golden sky.

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel.

0:09

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

Reflect

“Here we are”

The tribes came to the king God had chosen, after years of holding out against him: “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.” Is there a part of your life where you have kept the Lord at a distance? Write down what it would look like to come to Him and say, Here I am.

David Conquers Jerusalem

Valley of RephaimHebronJerusalemTyreGibeonGezer

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Jerusalem, the City of David

David moved from Hebron to Jerusalem, a Jebusite town on the border between Judah and Benjamin, about nineteen miles to the north, and made it “the City of David.” Hiram’s cedar came from Tyre on the coast. The Philistines “spread out in the Valley of Rephaim,” just southwest of the city (a probable site), and David struck them down “all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.” Baal-perazim’s site is unknown.

The small Jebusite town at evening on its narrow ridge above a deep valley, a thick wall of rough stone following the slope, flat-roofed houses inside, terraced olive groves on the slopes below.

Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.”

Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David).

2 Samuel 5:7

On that day he said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must use the water shaft to reach the lame and blind who are despised by David.” That is why it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the palace.”

Morning on the steep eastern slope of the City of David: workmen in plain tunics lay rough stones into a great stepped terrace climbing the hillside below the town wall, baskets of earth passed hand to hand, the Kidron valley in shadow below.

So David took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built it up all the way around, from the supporting terraces inward.

And David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of Hosts was with him.

2 Samuel 5:10

Midday at the foot of Jerusalem's ridge: oxen drag long reddish cedar logs up a dusty track while Phoenician craftsmen square a log with bronze adzes and a mason dresses a block, a Phoenician envoy in a fringed robe watching with an Israelite official.

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.

Question

Quick question

David became king of Judah at Hebron, and then of all Israel. Jerusalem came later.

How old was David when he became king?

David’s Family Grows

And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

Sons born in Jerusalem

Born in Jerusalem

  1. In Jerusalem

    More wives, sons and daughters

    After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

  2. Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon

    These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

  3. Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia

    Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

  4. Elishama, Eliada, Eliphelet

    Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

Two Victories over the Philistines

From a rocky hilltop at evening, a broad valley of ripening grain southwest of Jerusalem filled with a Philistine camp spread among the fields, cooking smoke rising; in the foreground the backs of two of David's men crouched among the rocks, watching.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.

Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

David

So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”

God

“Go up,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.

Dusk at the edge of a stand of tall, poplar-like balsam trees whose crowns bend and shiver in a long wave, while below them David's men crouch, still, looking up; the grass at their feet is calm.

As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

Pray

He has gone out before you

Thank the Lord that He made David king “for the sake of His people Israel,” and that He goes out before His own. Ask Him for the habit David had of asking first, before you act, and for a humble heart when He gives you success.

You’ve experienced

2 Samuel 5

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A verse to carry with you

And David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of Hosts was with him.

2 Samuel 5:10

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