2 Samuel 5 David Crowned

With Ish-bosheth’s murder, the last impediment to David becoming king is gone. David is crowned king of Israel. And the Philistines don’t like it!

In our reading, we get a quick history of David in Jerusalem. I had thought that Solomon broke his father’s example by taking so many wives and concubines, but I was wrong. David took more wives and concubines after moving to Jerusalem. One of the things God had instructed a king NOT to do. Women were apparently David’s “Achilles heel” as well as Solomon’s.

One of the first things David does after becoming king of Israel is to take the city of Jerusalem. This will be his headquarters and be the city in which all successive kings, of his line, rule from.

Our story today is going to stay ‘in the present’ and not touch on the longer life of David in Jerusalem. We will be looking at David’s beginning as king of Israel. Let’s rejoin our story and see as David builds his kingdom.

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It has been a week since the brothers brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David. The leaders of Israel are meeting together to decide their next step.

“The Lord has called David to be king over all of Israel. NOT just over Judah. We need to right this wrong.”

“What if he refuses us? What will we do then?”

“Why borrow trouble from tomorrow? All we can do is approach him as a unified body and put our proposal forward. Let the Lord do the rest.”

“Do you think there is any possibility that he had a hand in either Abner or Ish-bosheth’s deaths?”

“How could you even think that after how he reacted to both events! Not in a MILLION years did David have anything to do with their murders. He didn’t even have foreknowledge of it, or I KNOW that he would have stopped it from happening.”

With that last concern set to rest, the leaders agree that they will approach David in Hebron with their offer of allegiance.

David has been expecting something to happen regarding Israel, but he is content to wait. He goes about his daily business of leading Judah. He knows that God will install him as king of Israel; when the time is right. He can wait.

The wait is over. A contingent of the leaders has just arrived in Hebron. Their number and manner of dress make it obvious as to their destination. The guard at the gate greets them first.

“Shalom honored visitors. How may I be of assistance to you?”

“You can let king David know that we wish an audience with him.”

“Right away my lord. If you will follow me, I will escort you to his home.”

“He has no palace?”

“No my lord. He is a humble man, but he has room to accommodate all who wish to meet with him.”

No more is said as the contingent follows the guard to David’s home. As the approach, the guard at the door announces their presence to David. David steps from his home to greet them personally.

David bows to them before speaking. “Shalom my brothers. Welcome to Hebron and to my home. May I offer you something to refresh yourselves?”

The elders are impressed with David’s greeting. He is indeed a humble man. No other king would welcome visitors so graciously. The head elder speaks for the group.

“We are honored by your welcome. We would gladly accept your offer of refreshment, but not before we have concluded our reason for coming. If all goes well, we may have much to celebrate.”

“Speak then, for your servant is listening.”

Again, they marvel at David’s words and attitude. The head elder addresses David.  “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’” (2 Samuel 5:1-2)

David nods his head in agreement but says nothing. This is a statement of facts so far. There is no question in it. The elders again notice David’s patience in not grabbing this statement as an invitation to seize power.

“We would pledge our lives and the lives of our families to you as the king the Lord has intended for you to be. Would you become king of Israel?”

Now David is ready to respond. He knew their hearts, but he would not force himself on the people. “I would be honored to serve as king of Israel. I will serve the people of Israel as the Lord leads me.”

The leaders of each tribe withdraw a small flask of oil from the folds in their robes. They pour them together into a single larger flask. The men form a circle and draw David into its center. David bows down before them and the head elder pours the contents of the larger flask over David’s head. The oil saturates his hair and runs down his beard. It also soaks the shoulders of the robe he is wearing.

“As one people, we anoint David, son of Jesse, of Bethlehem, as king over all of Israel. From this day forward, he will be our king, and we swear allegiance to him.” The head elder turns to look at those encircling David. “So say you all?”

“So say we all” rises in chorus from all the leaders.

David rises after this and calls to his servants. “Prepare a celebration for our honored guests.”

There was nothing left undone for this celebration. It was a feast fit for a king, with food and wine freely flowing, and music and entertainment for all. Restraint was also observed as none of the guests, or David, imbibed to the point of drunkenness. David was very pleased to observe the restraint in this area.

Another week passes before David sets his sights on a new place to rule from. The city of Jerusalem is the most defensible and spectacular city in all of Israel. It is centrally located between all the tribes from both sides of the Jordan. It also holds significance to David, as that is where he brought the head of Goliath to be displayed. But it has never been conquered. The Jebusites occupy it. David plans to change that.

David and Joab meet to discuss strategy.

“My king, we cannot take it without serious losses and a long and protracted battle.”

“Actually, I have been formulating a plan. But I will need to be on the site in order to assess its feasibility. I want the men ready to march at dawn. We will come at them with a large force, to make them think that we are waging regular warfare against them. I want to hear their response to a challenge.”

As directed, Israel’s army is ready at dawn to move on Jerusalem. Joab mustered 60,000 troops for this engagement. He did not tell them their exact role in this engagement. David will lead this battle himself.

When they reach Jerusalem, David has his men set up camp on the nearest hill. The tents cover every available inch. While this is going on, David takes two men with him and sneak away from camp. David has purposefully set camp on the opposite side of the city from his intended target. The three men circle behind the city and approach the cistern and the waterway that fed the city of Jerusalem. David examined it carefully, going so far as the enter it and make his way right below the city.

“This is the way we will go in and conquer the city” David told the men with him. They quietly returned to the camp and slipped back in among the people. Then David stood in front of the camp, ensuring that the people of Jerusalem would see him.

David walked back and forth, as if he was looking for a weakness in the city wall. The guards on the wall watched him. The ruler of Jerusalem finally came onto the catwalk to observe David. David would occasionally look up at the men watching him.

When he could stand David’s movements no longer, the ruler of Jerusalem called down to David. “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off” (2 Samuel 5:6b) The soldiers on the catwalk took up the taunt.

After about an hour of ‘examining the wall’, David returned to camp. He called Joab to join him in his tent. Joab had been one of the men who had accompanied David to explore the waterway.

“I need two companies to go with me. Pick the brightest and best. Those that can scale walls as well as being highly skilled with the sword. Have them ready by nightfall.”

Joab rushes off to choose the men who will accompany David. He chooses 100 men. “Assemble behind the ridge just before dusk. Do not go in groups, but one or two at a time. We don’t want our movements observed.”

At dusk, David ‘strolls’ over the back side of the hill. He is pleased to find his men waiting. “We have a special task ahead of us. What the Jebusites say is true, IF we were to try a frontal assault on the city. But I know of a way past their defenses. We will use the waterway to enter the city and take it. Each man will scale the walls of the water way and slip into hiding in the city. As soon as all are in place, we will rise from hiding and take the city. We will also open the gates for our brothers to enter.”

Smiles and nods abound as their king’s plan takes shape. They are pleased to have been chosen for this task.

“Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David’s soul” (2 Samuel 5:8) David tells his men with a smile. “We leave as soon as it is fully dark.” David turns to Joab. “You will stay with the main force and wait. Have them drilling in the field so they will be ready when the time comes.”

Joab starts to object, but David raises his hand. “I need you visible so the people will believe that we are committed to a frontal assault. When we hear you marching, I will send up a war cry and our attack will begin. We will hopefully be in place before first light.”

Joab says no more. He returns to camp. David and his men prepare for their upcoming incursion.

David’s men are ready by the waterway by first watch of the night. One by one they sneak into the city through the water system. It takes most of the night for all of them to find suitable hiding places without being observed. They wait quietly for the signal.

Joab begins drilling the men at first light. The sound of swords clanging against armor and rhythmic footfalls alerts David. He smiles, takes a deep breath, and lets out a war cry from the middle of the city.

David’s men swarm from their hiding places and begin cutting down inhabitants as they move in two directions. Their first objective is opening the gates, and their second is taking the palace. David leads those committed to the second target. Within half an hour, the whole city has been subdued. The ruler of Jerusalem kneels before David. He is bound hand and foot. David himself secured these ropes. David wants him to witness the complete defeat of his city before going to meet his maker.

“The ‘lame and the blind’ didn’t do a very good job protecting your city” David says with a tilt of his head. “They are no longer welcome here. And neither are you.” David looks to Joab. “Kill him and hang his body by the gate until sundown.”

Joab steps forward and runs his spear through the ruler of Jerusalem. Then he has his men carry the body to the gates. They raise him up onto a pillar using a rope around his neck.

David orders his men to plunder the city. “You are to burn only the temple to foreign gods and any of their symbols.” David plans to eventually make Jerusalem his home.

David’s men go through the city, gathering all the idols. Each home and business are thoroughly searched and anything of value is set aside. The wooden idols are heaped into a pile in the field where Joab had the men marching. Idols of gold and silver will be melted down and placed in the treasury.

As the sun sinks in the sky, the previous ruler of Jerusalem is lowered to the ground. His body is then placed on top of the pile of wooden idols. Fire is kindled and both go up in flames.

David gathers a tenth of the spoils and offers it to the Lord. It will be placed in the Tabernacle. The remaining spoils are split between the men who took part in the battle. David saves a fourth of the spoils for the treasury of the king. This will be used to care for the people.

After all is done, David and his troops return to Hebron. There is still work to be done before David is ready to move his family to their new home.

Not more than a month goes by since David was crowned king of Israel before the Philistines begin to fear David. David was dangerous enough when he was king of Judah. Now he is king of Israel. Something has to be done.

Achish’s throne room is filled with the other Philistine leaders. They have called an emergency meeting.

“You said David had made himself a stench in the nostrils of Israel. Now they go and anoint him their king” seethed the king of Ashkelon.

“When he reported his raids to me he told me of the places in Judah he raided” replied Achish.

“You are a bigger fool that we gave you credit for. He LIED to you! He has been king of Judah for more than seven years now. If he had told you the truth he wouldn’t have even been welcome there” reminds the king of Ekron.

“Don’t you think I know that; NOW!”

“We should have dealt with him when he only ruled Judah.” The king of Ashdod shakes his fist to emphasize his point.

“It is VERY fortunate we turned him away in battle when we faced Saul.” The other kings agree but feel the king of Gaza’s comment is a bit too late to make any difference.

“Let the past rest. There is nothing we can do about it. We need to decide how to proceed now” offers Achish.

“We need to KILL HIM. That’s what we need to do” roars the king of Ekron.

“We need to come against him in number! We must attack together as we did with Saul. David is new to Israel and they may decide he is not worth the wrath of the combined Philistine presence.”

“The king of Ashdod speaks wisely” replies the king of Gaza. “We must remove David now before the people put all their trust in him. We crush him, we crush Israel.”

Discussion continued and battle plans were solidified. The five Philistine lords would seek out David and go against him specifically. No side raids. No distractions. David was their target.

A week later reports of Philistine troop movements are brought to David in Hebron.

“My king, the Philistines are gathering for war. Their numbers are GREAT and there are standards for all five kings among them.”

“They have undoubtedly heard that I have been made king of Israel. We cannot risk the good people of Hebron. Now that Jerusalem is secure, I can think of no better stronghold to meet them from.”

David would not make the same mistake the Jebusites had when it came to protecting the stronghold. The waterway would be guarded at all times. They hadn’t had time yet to complete their fortifications surrounding it so guards would be used instead.

David’s main troops were already stationed in Jerusalem. All that remained was for him to move himself and his family, along with his personal guards, to Jerusalem. This took the better part of a day. David spent the next two days working up battle plans and adjusting his forces to points he felt might be vulnerable.

Spies quickly return to the Philistine lords after watching David move his family. “David has taken refuge in Jerusalem.”

“A wise and foolish decision. It is worthy stronghold but if he can take it WE certainly can too. Our numbers far outweigh anything he could muster.”

The target is now chosen by David himself. The Philistines march straight to Jerusalem and make camp on the nearby hills.

Morning dawns and David looks over the hills surrounding Jerusalem. They are filled with Philistines encampments. Philistia is united in their desire to see David’s head on a pike. David shows no fear as he surveys his enemy. He has seen battle MANY TIMES over. This battle though weighs more heavily on him. It is his first as Israel’s king and it will set the tone for his reign. He must seek God.

David’s personal servant is in the room making up the bed. “Abket, send for the priest. Have him bring the ephod.”

Abket hurries off to complete his duty. The priest arrives at David’s door within minutes. “You sent for me my king. How may I serve you?”

“I wish to inquire of the Lord. I must know His will before facing the Philistines.”

“A wise decision my king.” The priest places the ephod on his body and clears his mind. “Inquire my king.”

“Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” (verse 19b).

The priest’s eyes close and he speaks with a voice of authority. “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand” (verse 19c). The priest waits a little longer to make certain the Lord has no more to say to David. He opens his eyes and unfastens the ephod. “The Lord has given you His answer.”

David follows the priest out and goes to the garrison. He calls his commanders together. “We will go up against the Philistines this day. The Lord has spoken. He has given them into our hands.” Cheers erupt from the men standing ready. David’s words bolster their confidence.

There were already men stationed on the wall. Now the remaining forces assemble in waves near the gates of the city. Jerusalem has four gates. Each one has troops ready to rush from it as well as troops to defend it. David stations himself with his men at the northern gate.

The ram’s horn sounds a long blast. The city gates are thrown open and David’s forces rush to face the Philistines who were still in the process of cutting timbers for their assault. They had no idea David would come to them. They expected to have a long siege. Now they have to scramble to readjust their tactics.

David’s men are cutting through the Philistine lines like ripe wheat. They fall to the right and left. Every flank is receiving the same result. The Philistine are in utter chaos! Retreat is sounded and the remaining Philistine army flees the battlefield. David’s men give chase but are called back after a short distance. David wants to leave NO chance of them sneaking into the city instead.

As the men near Jerusalem David calls out, “Gather the spoils. ‘The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood’ (verse 20b).” David is pleased to give God the glory.

In the spoils are the Philistines’ idols. Gold, brass, silver and wood items these uncircumcised worshiped. The metal pieces will be melted while the wooden ones burned in a great fire. David thinks to himself, “Imagine trusting in some item fashioned by the hands of man.”

All is quiet for a while. David’s men finish the fortifications on the water system. David has dreams of expanding the city walls to incorporate the water but that will be some time in the making.

Word reaches David again. “The Philistines are on the move again my king. They are perhaps two days march from here.”

“Take two runners with you and keep watch on them. Inform me of their movements daily through the runners.”

The messenger bows and hurries off to do the king’s bidding. David sends word to prepare the troops for battle.

The next day brings word from the runners. “The Philistines have made camp in the Valley of Rephaim. They appear to be settling in there.”

David considers this report. They are trying a different tactic than last time. They have left a buffer zone between them and Jerusalem. They would have a clear field of fire if David’s men rushed headlong into that gap. “Return to your watch and send me word if they begin to move again.”

Once the messenger departs David sends again for the priest. The priest stands before David with the ephod in his hands. “What does my king desire?”

“I must inquire of the Lord again.”

The priest dons the ephod. “Inquire my king.”

“Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?”

“You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines” (verses 23b-24).

David is awed at the Lord’s tactics. He is happy to comply for he knows the Lord will not fail those who put their trust in Him and follow His commands. David calls for his commanders.

“What is your command my king?” asks Joab.

“We are to face the Philistines again.”

Joab smiles. “Another defeat awaits them. When will they learn.”

“Yes, they will be defeated but not in the manner they were the last time.”

Joab’s face shows eagerness to hear the king’s plan.

“The Lord has spoken and told us to go behind them. We will need to wait until they have committed themselves to a position, then sneak out in the night to get behind them. Send a squad of men to join the runners in the Valley of Rephaim. They are keeping watch on the Philistines. Let me know if they have settled in. Also scout out the best way around them. Get word back so we can be ready at the earliest moment.”

Joab sends out his brother, Abishai’s squad. He is an incredibly fast runner. They will need all his speed to allow David’s men time to take their positions.

The light of day is nearly gone before Abishai returns to Joab. “The Philistines have indeed made the Valley of Rephaim their camp. They have cut timbers and stationed archers. There is also a ridge to the east of them that will hide our movements.”

“Did you see any spies stationed in between?”

“I scouted the whole area around the city and saw two near the northern gate. If we take the western gate and double behind the city we will escape their notice.”

“Good work. We will move out soon. I want to be in position before daybreak.”

Joab shares the report with David who is also pleased with Abishai’s report. David and his men leave within the hour. They have put sacks over their swords to keep them from clanging. The night has a full moon so they are able to see without the aid of torches. Before morning they are well hidden behind the camp of the Philistines.

As the first light of morning makes its way into the valley the Philistines rise and prepare to do battle. They assemble in ranks and begin their march towards Jerusalem.

David and his men are silent as they wait for the sound the Lord told them to expect. Not long after the Philistines set out the balsam begins to resound with the sound of their marching feet.

“NOW!” The call rings out and David’s troops surge from the trees. They begin with the troops in the rear, dispatching them with ease. It takes a few minutes before the forward troops realize where their challenge is coming from. By then it is chaos. David’s men “strike down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer” (verse 25b).

The Philistines that remain flee in every direction, some seeking refuge in Gezer. David and his troops return to Jerusalem, gathering spoils along the way. They make their biggest haul at the site of the Philistines camp. “How quickly they forgot the losses they had last time. Maybe this time will be different” thinks David.

As soon as they make it back to Jerusalem David calls for the priest. He wants to honor the Lord for another victory before anything else happens.

A tithe is taken of the spoil and given to the priest. The priest then makes an offering of thanksgiving. David calls for a day of feasting to celebrate the Lord’s victory once again.

(to be continued)

This was a lot of change for David. But he was ready for his new role. God gave him ‘training time’ before putting him in the place He had promised. No Way could David have stepped into this role without the trials he went through. He learned how to command people, how to plan strategies, how to care for those under him, and everything in between. And the people learned who David was. This was equally as important.

When Saul was anointed king, he didn’t have any of that training. He was ‘thrown into the deep end’ and expected to ‘swim’. I wonder if that played a part in his issues. He hadn’t learned to trust God the same way David had.

The lessons we go through mold us for the roles God has picked for us. I would not be who I am today, if it weren’t for the places I’ve walked through. That includes dealing with my vision since birth. My struggle gave me a heart for others who struggle.

Father God, thank You for ALL the places I have walked. Even the hardest places. They have proved Your faithfulness to me in ways that cannot even be expressed. You have molded me and shaped me into a vessel You can use. I know that I’m not done being molded and shaped, but what You have brought me through lets me be useful today and for years to come (I pray). I look forward to the rest of our journey together. But I’m NOT ready to step out of the roles I’m in now! Give me at least another 10 years with my husband. No matter what that looks like.