Bible Commentaries

2 Samuel 5:17. But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David,

To thrust him down, and kill him if they could, and so put an end to his prosperous reign.

2 Samuel 5:17-20. And David heard of it, and went down to the hold. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And 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. And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters.

As a flood breaks forth, and carries all before it.

2 Samuel 5:20-21. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim. And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.

The Philistines brought their gods with them, in the hope of being thereby defended; but “David and his men burned them.” That was the very best thing to do with them. What a pity they did not save them for aesthetic purposes! Thus do men with fine old works of art, like pictures of the Virgin Mary. No, no, burn them; for that is the very best thing to do with anything that ever has been worshipped of mortal man. If they have ever been set up in the place of God, they are cursed from that moment, let them be burned, or dashed in pieces, or in some way destroyed. “There they left their images, and David and his men burned them.”

2 Samuel 5:22-24. And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And 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. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself:

Or be sharp up, and go at them.

2 Samuel 5:24-25. For then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him:

I hope that may be said of you and me all our lives long.

2 Samuel 5:25. And smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.

That is, he utterly overthrew them, and drove them away.

This exposition consisted of readings from Psalms 144, And 2 Samuel 5:17-25.