Bible Commentaries

Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we [are] thy ^a bone and thy flesh.

(a) We are of your kindred and closely related to you.

So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron ^b before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.

(b) That is, taking the Lord to witness: for the ark was still in Abinadab's house.

And 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 ^c blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.

(c) The children of God called idols blind and lame guides: therefore the Jebusites meant that they should prove that their gods were neither blind nor lame.

And 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 ^d come into the house.

(d) The idols should no longer enter into that place.

So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from ^e Millo and inward.

(e) He built from the town house round about to his own house (1 Chronicles 11:8).

And David ^f 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.

(f) By Abiathar the priest.

And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of ^g Rephaim.

(g) Meaning the valley of giants, which David called Baalperazim, because of his victory.

And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to ^h Gazer.

(h) Which was in the tribe of Benjamin, but the Philistines possessed it.